US actress Michelle Trachtenberg has passed away at the age of 39 from complications due to diabetes, according to information released by the New York City medical examiner's office. The actress was discovered "unconscious and unresponsive" in her New York City apartment earlier this year in February. Although a post-mortem examination was not conducted, the cause of death was established through toxicology tests.
Trachtenberg, who was raised in an Orthodox Jewish family, had reportedly requested that no autopsy be performed, citing religious beliefs. With no evidence of foul play, the medical examiner respected the family's wishes. Reports indicate that the actress underwent a liver transplant prior to her death, though the details surrounding the surgery remain unclear.
Fans and friends of Trachtenberg expressed shock and sadness at her sudden passing. Rising to fame as a child star, she made her mark with various roles in Nickelodeon productions, including the film "Harriet the Spy." She garnered significant recognition in the early 2000s for her portrayal of Dawn Summers in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," for which she received several award nominations, including a Daytime Emmy Award.
In addition to her work on television, Trachtenberg starred in numerous films such as "EuroTrip," "Ice Princess," "Killing Kennedy," and "Sister Cities." Following her death, tributes from fellow actors flooded in, including one from Blake Lively, her "Gossip Girl" co-star, who described Trachtenberg as someone who gave her all in everything she did and was fiercely loyal to her friends.
