Michelle Trachtenberg has passed away at the age of 39.
The Harriet the Spy star was found unresponsive in her New York City apartment near Columbus Circle on the morning of Wednesday, February 26, where paramedics pronounced her dead at the scene.
According to reports, Trachtenberg’s mother discovered her daughter’s body at One Columbus Place, a luxury high-rise in Manhattan’s Central Park South neighbourhood. Sources indicate that the actress suffered cardiac arrest, and while her passing is believed to be from natural causes, an official autopsy report has yet to be released. It is understood that she recently underwent a liver transplant, and there are concerns that her body may have rejected it. However, her death is not being investigated as suspicious.
In a statement, her longtime representative, Gary Mantoosh, confirmed the news.
“It is with great sadness to confirm that Michelle Trachtenberg has passed away,” he wrote. “The family requests privacy for their loss.”
Born in New York City, Trachtenberg’s career began at just three years old, quickly establishing her as one of the most recognisable faces of early 2000s television and film.
Her breakout role as Harriet M. Welsch in Harriet the Spy (1996) made her a household name, while later performances in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Gossip Girl cemented her status as a teen icon. She also went on to star in EuroTrip, Ice Princess, and 17 Again before she took a career hiatus.
The actress also became a fixture of red carpets and Hollywood soirees during the early aughts.
Despite stepping away from the spotlight in recent years, Trachtenberg has spoken candidly about navigating fame in the early 2000s and the scrutiny that often accompanied it, particularly after concerns about her health surfaced last year.
From solving mysteries as Harriet to playing the machiavellian Georgina Sparks, Trachtenberg leaves behind a legacy of iconic performances.
This story first appeared on GRAZIA International.
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