RIP Michelle Trachtenberg

[B-Movie Zombie]

dead at 39 — former ‘Gossip Girl,’ ‘Harriet the Spy’ amd "Buffy: the Vampire Slayer".

Trachtenberg was found by her mother around 8 a.m. Wednesday at One Columbus Place, a 51-story luxury apartment complex in Manhattan’s Central Park South neighborhood, the sources said.

The actress recently underwent a liver transplant, according to the sources.

Cause of death is unknown at this time.

 

[PoopaPapaPalps]

Had to look her up because the name rang a bell, and I recognized her instantly (her younger self, anyway). She was everywhere in kid's programming in the 90's. I remember her from "Inspector Gadget" of all places. She looked way, way different in the more recent images I saw. I didn't recognize her at all with how slender her face became.

Shame to have gone so young.

 

[JediMichael]

Thats kind of crazy. Wonder what the liver transplant was for? Can't seem to find anything online about it.
One source says she died of natural causes....but at 39, and after having the transplant. I'd say that might have had something to do with it.

 

[Darth Lars]

What the f... Much too young.
Loved seeing her in Buffy the vampire slayer.

 

[The Terminator]

Mainly know her from Buffy. Wow, so young.
Just shocking...
Rest in peace <3

 

[batguy]

Yeah 39 is pretty young.

Alcoholism is the obvious first guess. Liver failure can hit that early in some cases. I knew a hard drinker who had liver damage in his late 20s.


But I'm only guessing about this actor. People get liver transplants for other reasons too.

 

[CB2001]

I can’t say I’ve seen her work. But it sucks she passed away so young. Rest in Peace, madam.

 

[13doctorwho]

So sad. I know she did a lot of stuff, but I remember her from Buffy. I can't believe she was 39... it seems like yesterday she was a kid. There are all kinds of health problems that might require a liver transplant.

 

[blewis17]

dead at 39 — former ‘Gossip Girl,’ ‘Harriet the Spy’ amd "Buffy: the Vampire Slayer".

Trachtenberg was found by her mother around 8 a.m. Wednesday at One Columbus Place, a 51-story luxury apartment complex in Manhattan’s Central Park South neighborhood, the sources said.

The actress recently underwent a liver transplant, according to the sources.

Cause of death is unknown at this time.

So young and talented. There's only a few reasons someone of her young age would need a liver transplant.

I've been in a liver transplant (1999); it was a long, bloody and time consuming procedure. And there's the need for chronic maintenance anti-rejection medications, potential bile duct problems, health issues, etc. It can be a rough road for any transplant patient, even after you've recovered from the operation (but my "gestalt" is that kidney transplant patients have a somewhat easier time).

R.I.P.

 

[Darth Lars]

When I read "liver transplant" my thoughts immediately went to cancer. I myself got colon cancer at the age of 35. Mine was detected early but it is one of those cancers that could go undetected for years until it has metastasised in the liver, and then it can be too late to treat successfully.

 

[Apollo]

Sad news, so young

 

[Moviefreak]

Yeah 39 is pretty young.

Alcoholism is the obvious first guess. Liver failure can hit that early in some cases. I knew a hard drinker who had liver damage in his late 20s.


But I'm only guessing about this actor. People get liver transplants for other reasons too.

I remember about a year ago when there was some drama on social media after she posted a selfie. People started commenting that she looked unwell, with some pointing out that her eyes appeared yellow, which raised concerns that she might have jaundice—a potential sign of liver problems. She quickly responded and shut down the speculation.

One possible reason a young person might need a transplant, aside from alcohol use, would be a cancer of some sort. Or it could be biliary atresia, a rare condition affecting the bile ducts that can lead to liver scarring and damage. But as you mentioned, we'll need to wait for the official biopsy report to get the full picture.

 

[JediMichael]

My brother was mentioning to me, that he saw some people saying, that after she got a covid shot, she had become really sick. Who knows if that had anything to do with it, or needing the liver transplant, but, I just saw that her family doesn't want any type of autopsy done, so I guess we'll never actually know now.
So they are leaving her death as, undetermined.

 

[George]

Rest in Peace, Michelle. Really sad news for someone in the prime of their life