NEIGHBORS of the late actress Michelle Trachtenberg were shocked to hear of the 39-year-old’s sudden passing.
Trachtenberg’s death was announced Wednesday morning when outlets reported she was found dead in her New York City apartment.
The actress is believed to have died of natural causes, with no foul play suspected.
Trachtenberg’s cause of death has yet to be announced, but the actress is said to have had a liver transplant which she may have had adverse side effects, ABC News reported.
The U.S. Sun spoke to several of the Gossip Girl star’s neighbors.
Raphael Noufled, 24, has lived in the building for 20 years and said he had limited interactions with the actress but was still stunned to see police and media surrounding his building.
“I walked out this morning to go on a run then I saw [press] guys with the cameras, so I asked around and heard the sad news,” he said.
“I didn’t know her personally or anything about her health but she seemed alright. So obviously it was a big shock to hear she passed away this morning.
“Gossip Girl is the only show I watched from her, but she was obviously a great actress. People loved her, people are here to pay their respects.”
Katie Wheeler, 38, said she found out about the death of her neighbor when a friend texted her in shock.
“One of my friends sent me a message about it and said ‘RIP Harriet the Spy,’” she recalled.
“That’s my favorite thing I know her from. Watching that when I was little, I was about her age, and then my sister and I would get our notebooks out and do what she did, and then she was on gossip girl which I really liked.
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“It’s shocking because I’m 38, and she’s 39. It’s my age and so many people are dying so young and it’s just shocking that not only did she die so young, but she is also in this building. I had no idea.”
Wheeler said she had no idea Trachtenberg even lived in the building until she saw a coroner’s van and press outside her building this afternoon.
“It’s just weird that I read about that in the news, and I texted my friend earlier and said, ‘There’s a coroner van here, and there’s medical examiner van.
“I said, ‘What is going on?’ Then, 20, 25 minutes ago, I’m just coming back from lunch and now I see [the press] all here.”
Michelle Trachtenberg’s career
Michelle Trachtenberg began her career as a child actress, starring in over 62 movies and TV shows before her sudden death at age 39.
Notable roles throughout her career include:
- 1994: Nona Mecklenberg in The Adventures of Pete & Pete
- 1996: Harriet in Harriet the Spy
- 1997: Dawn in Buffy the Vampire Slayer
- 1999: Penny Brown in Inspector Gadget
- 2001: Hosted and narrated Truth or Scare
- 2004: Jenny in Euro Trip
- 2005: Casey Carlyle in Ice Princess
- 2006: Melissa in Black Christmas
- 2007: Georgina Sparks in Gossip Girl
- 2009: Maggie in 17 Again
- 2015: Megan Phillips in The Christmas Gift
- 2022-2023: Georgina Sparks in the Gossip Girl reboot
The star also made cameo appearances in major TV shows:
- 2006: Lisa Tyler in Law and Order: Criminal Intent
- 2006: Melinda Bardach in House
- 2013: Lily Lockhart in NCIS: Los Angeles
- 2013: Diane Turner in Criminal Minds
Wheeler wasn’t the only neighbor to learn the shocking news of not just Trachtenberg’s death, but also that she lived in the same building as her.
“It was just really sad, I was so sad,” Jane, another neighbor of the star, said.
“I grew up watching Gossip Girl and some of the other movies she was in as a kid.
“I felt like every show she was in I saw and I cannot believe she lives in this building,” the 22-year-old neighbor continued.
“I just had no idea I’m just shocked, like that’s so crazy.”
PAYING TRIBUTE
Co-stars of Trachtenberg’s were quick to post tributes to the Buffy the Vampire Slayer actress.
James Marsters, a co-star on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, posted on Instagram to honor the late actress. “My heart is heavy today,” he wrote.
“We have lost a beautiful soul. Michelle was fiercely intelligent, howlingly funny, and a very talented person. She died much too young, and leaves behind scores of people who knew and loved her.”
Tributes to Michelle Trachtenberg
Friends and former co-stars of Trachtenberg’s were quick to post tributes on social media honoring the actress.
David Boreanaz, who starred alongside Trachtenberg in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, posted a photo of the actress on his Instagram story, commenting, “So very sad…horrible news. RIP and prayers to her and her family.”
Trachtenberg’s Gossip Girl co-star Ed Westwick posted a photo on his Instagram story of the actress when she played Georgina Sparks. He wrote, “So sad to hear of the passing of Michelle Trachtenberg. Sending prayers.”
Kim Cattrall, who starred alongside Trachtenberg in 2005 film Ice Princess, wrote, “Rest in peace sweet Michelle.”
Rosie O’Donnell, who acted with Trachtenberg in Harriet the Spy, also said the news was “heartbreaking.”
“I loved her very much. She struggled the last few years. I wish I could have helped,” she said, according to People.
James Marsters, another co-star on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, posted on Instagram to honor the late actress. “My heart is heavy today,” he wrote.
“We have lost a beautiful soul. Michelle was fiercely intelligent, howlingly funny, and a very talented person. She died much too young, and leaves behind scores of people who knew and loved her.”
Fellow Nickelodeon star Kenan Thompson posted a farewell message to the actress and reminded others to check in on their friends.
“Our first Nick movie star has departed us!! She was my friend and now she rests!! Check on your people!!!” he wrote.
Melissa Joan Hart, Trachtenberg’s Clarissa Explains it All co-star, said she was “heartbroken” over her death alongside a clip of the show.
“I’m heartbroken to hear of the passing of @michelletrachtenberg,” she said. “So young, so talented and so sweet!”
“I think this was about 1992 and the episode was an idea I had about babysitting a total nightmare. But Michelle was nothing like her character and even this young, we got along wonderfully.”
Sex and the City star Kim Cattrall, as well as Trachtenberg’s co-star in the hit teen movie Ice Princess, simply posted, “Rest in Peace Michelle.”
Gossip Girl co-star Ed Westwick also joined in honoring the actress by posting a photo of her dressed as her character Georgina Sparks, commenting, “So sad to hear of the passing of Michelle Trachtenberg. Sending prayers.”
