On the morning of Feb. 26, actress Michelle Trachtenberg, 39, was found dead in her apartment in Manhattan, New York; she was officially declared deceased on site by the New York Police Department (NYPD). No foul play is suspected and Trachtenberg’s family has refused an autopsy due to religious reasons.
Her cause of death has officially been ruled as “undetermined,” with Trachtenberg’s death coming months after she underwent a liver transplant. According to friends of Trachtenberg, the star had recently been struggling with a variety of health problems and had spent time in the hospital.
Trachtenberg was largely known for her role as Dawn Summers in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (BTVS) (1997-2003). Other work included Ice Princess (2005) and Gossip Girl (2007-2012).
Trachtenberg’s former co-stars have voiced their grief online over the star’s sudden death. BTVS co-star, James Marsters, also shared his thoughts on her passing.
“She died much too young, and leaves behind scores of people who knew and loved her.”
