Associates and colleagues are mourning Michelle Trachtenberg, star of Buffy, Gossip Lady and Disney’s Ice Princess, who was found dead in her house at age 39 on Wednesday.
The precise reason for Michelle Trachtenberg’s loss of life is but to be confirmed. Sources have reported the actor could have skilled issues as a result of a liver transplant, and that she suffered cardiac arrest earlier than her loss of life.
In the meantime, Hollywood has been left to grieve a lady described as an “electrical” drive behind a number of the largest TV sequence and films of the 90s and 2000s.
Trachtenberg began performing in TV commercials when she was simply three years outdated, and rose to prominence when she secured a recurring function within the Nickelodeon sequence The Adventures of Pete & Pete. At ten years of age she acquired international fame when she stepped into the function of curious ten 12 months outdated detective Harriet on Harriet The Spy.
Trachtenberg continued working all through her teenagers, showing in cult movies like Eurotrip (alongside Matt Damon and Kristen Kreuk). Trachtenberg is greatest remembered by millennial audiences (and Gen Zs enjoying nostalgic TV catch up) for her roles as Daybreak Summers in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Georgina Sparks in Gossip Girl. In a single, she performed candy little sister to Sarah Michelle Gellar’s titular Buffy, within the different she a wildly Machiavellian nemesis to Blake Energetic’s Serena Van Der Woodsen.
Given the size of her profession Trachtenberg labored alongside many Hollywood greats who at the moment are sharing their disappointment and effusive reward for her expertise, portray an image of a heat, humorous character and immense expertise. Learn tributes from the Buffy the Vampire cast, her Gossip Lady associates and extra.
Blake Energetic
In 2008, Michelle Trachtenberg joined Gossip Lady to play Serena Van Der Woodsen’s nemesis, Georgina Sparks. Whereas showrunners had solely written Georgina for one season, her chaotic hijinks turned so well-liked with followers she stayed for six seasons incessantly sparring with Energetic on display screen.
Blake Energetic posted a prolonged tribute to her on display screen sparring associate on Instagram tales, praising her expertise, heat and lip gloss.
Sharing a photograph from the primary day she and Trachtenberg met on set to Instagram tales she wrote: “She was electrical energy. You knew when she entered a room as a result of the vibration modified.”
“Every little thing she did, she did 200%,” she wrote. “She laughed the fullest at somebody’s joke, she confronted authority head on when she felt one thing was flawed, she cared deeply about her work, she was proud to be a part of this group and business as painful because it might be typically, she was fiercely loyal to her associates and courageous for these she beloved, she was large and daring and distinctly herself.”
Energetic offered one shocking perception into Trachtenberg followers will little question treasure. “And she or he all the time had a yummy caramel smelling lip gloss on as a result of she didn’t simply wish to sparkle on digicam, she favored creating a pleasant expertise for anybody who was in her orbit, even right down to the delicate scent of her lip gloss as a result of she cared in regards to the candy particulars. She was a sort particular person, by means of and thru.”
She added: “The world misplaced a deeply delicate and good particular person in Michelle. Might her work and her large coronary heart be remembered by those that had been fortunate sufficient to expertise her hearth.”
Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage
Gossip Lady showrunners Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage paid tribute to the sequence star in an announcement launched to NBC Information. “We’re deeply saddened by the information of Michelle’s passing,” they stated. “She was humorous, form, and proficient. Her portrayal of Georgina Sparks was an iconic fan favorite and grew from a one season villain to a beloved character who returned over the course of six seasons.” They added: “She was a delight to have on set and can be deeply missed. Our ideas are along with her household.”
Kim Cattrall
Kim Cattrall, who performed ice skating coach Tina Harwood in Ice Princess shared a photograph of herself on set with a 20 12 months outdated Michelle writing: Relaxation in peace candy Michelle.” She adopted with a put up on X sharing a easy messages. “That is heartbreaking,” she wrote with a heartbreak emoji. “So proficient, a lot too younger. RIP Candy Magnificence. xo”
Chace Crawford
Chace Crawford, who performed Nate Archibald on Gossip Lady, shared his disappointment to Instagram.
“I bear in mind her approaching set for the primary time and simply completely proudly owning it,” he wrote on Instagram. “She was a drive of nature and simply so so unapologetically humorous and magnetic.. remembering these years with a giant smile. Only a horrible loss. Love you ❤️”
Rosie O’Donnell
Rosie O’Donnell performed Harriett’s Nanny Ole Golly in Harriet the Spy. She referred to as the information “heartbreaking” and stated “I beloved her very a lot. She struggled the previous couple of years I want I may have helped.”
James Marsters
James Masters, who performed Spike on Buffy shared a prolonged tribute to Trachtenberg on Instagram. “My coronary heart is heavy immediately. We’ve got misplaced an exquisite soul. Michelle was fiercely clever, howlingly humorous, and a really proficient particular person. She died a lot too younger, and leaves behind scores of people that knew and beloved her.”
Melissa Joan Hart
Melissa Joan Hart performed Trachtenberg’s babysitter in Clarissa Explains It All. She shared a video from the sequence along with her Instagram viewers and captioned the put up: “I’m heartbroken to listen to of the passing of @michelletrachtenberg!!”
Trachtenberg performed a nightmare babysitting consumer however based on Joan Hart she was a dream to take care of on set. “Michelle was nothing like her character and even this younger, we acquired alongside splendidly.”
Melissa Rivers
Tv host Melissa Rivers, who not too long ago misplaced her house within the LA Palisades fires shared her grief on Instagram. “I’m deeply saddened by the sudden passing of my good friend Michelle. She made me giggle daily with the foolish little posts we might ship one another. This already troublesome time has turn out to be even more durable as a result of seeing her identify pop up all the time introduced me a smile —one thing that has been uncommon for me these days.”
Jane Espenson
Espenson, who wrote and produced on Buffy the Vampire Slayer described Trachtenberg as “a bouncy goofy child” and a “ray of sunshine.” “I’m very very saddened to listen to the information about Michelle Trachtenberg.”
Emma Caulfield
Emma Caulfield who performed a demon on Buffy the Vampire Slayer shared a throwback picture of her and Trachtenberg, referring to the actress as “little sister.”
“I’m so sorry your vibrant mild died so younger,” she wrote to Instagram tales. “Our Buffy household misplaced slightly sister immediately… Relaxation in peace beautiful Mish Mish. You had been beloved.”
