Michelle Trachtenberg's cause of death has been revealed.
The beloved actress - who first lit up screens as a child star in Harriet the Spy and later made waves on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Gossip Girl - was found unresponsive on the morning of February 26 in her apartment near Columbus Circle in Manhattan.
Emergency services were called just after 8:00AM and pronounced her dead at the scene.
Authorities stated at the time that “criminality was not suspected,” and the medical examiner honored the family’s wishes against performing an autopsy, since there were no signs of foul play.
She was 39.
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Now, the New York City Medical Examiner’s Office has confirmed to Deadline that the star died from natural causes “as a result of complications from diabetes mellitus.”
No autopsy was conducted, as her family objected for religious reasons, but toxicology tests provided further clarity in determining her cause of death.
Initially, the cause of death remained undetermined. However, once the toxicology results were in, the medical examiner officially ruled it a natural death.
A representative for the family issued a statement shortly after her death, saying, “The family requests privacy for their loss. There are no further details at this time.”
A New York City native, Trachtenberg’s career began at age three with TV commercials, followed by a recurring role as Lily Montgomery on All My Children. She shot to fame in the mid-90s starring as Harriet M. Welsch in Harriet the Spy, Nickelodeon’s first-ever feature film.
Her iconic portrayal of Harriet gained widespread acclaim, and Trachtenberg later recalled how Rosie O’Donnell, her co-star in the film, became her “biggest supporter” on set. “There was a lot required of me. I’m extremely grateful for the experience,” she told Entertainment Tonight in 2001.
Her quirky charm and sharp comedic timing made her a natural fit for Nickelodeon’s ’90s golden era, with roles in shows like The Adventures of Pete & Pete. She was later nominated for a Daytime Emmy for her hosting role in Truth or Scare.
In 2000, she joined the cult hit Buffy the Vampire Slayer as Dawn Summers, Buffy’s younger sister, a role she held until the series wrapped in 2003. Though some fans criticized the character’s teenage angst, Trachtenberg took the backlash in stride. “Most of the haters don’t have the guts to say things in person,” she said in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. “I rarely get the ‘Oh she ruined the show.’ I do get a lot of ‘Oh she was so whiny!’ Hi, were you a teenager?”
Her Buffy co-star James Marsters paid tribute following her passing, writing on Instagram, “My heart is heavy today. We have lost a beautiful soul. Michelle was fiercely intelligent, howlingly funny, and a very talented person.”
In 2004, she appeared in the cult comedy EuroTrip and the following year starred in Disney’s Ice Princess alongside Kim Cattrall. Cattrall also remembered her publicly, writing, “Rest in peace sweet Michelle,” while sharing a photo from the film.
But perhaps her most deliciously dramatic role came on Gossip Girl, where from 2008 to 2012 she played Georgina Sparks—the manipulative, unpredictable queen of chaos on the Upper East Side. “It’s kind of easy to be evil when you’re saying evil things. It’s definitely a lot more fun than playing the good girl,” she told Seventeen in 2009. “I love the reaction you get. I never understood why some actors don’t want to play villains or evil characters.”
Her work as Georgina earned her a Teen Choice Award nomination for Choice TV Villain in 2012. She reprised the role in Max’s Gossip Girl sequel series in 2023.
In her later years, she made appearances on series including House, Weeds, NCIS: Los Angeles, Sleepy Hollow, and even lent her voice to Robot Chicken.
In the days before her death, Trachtenberg was active on social media, posting nostalgic red carpet shots and reflecting on her past. In one caption, she wrote, “A memory, a magical night in #newyork. I remember feeling like Cinderella. Wishing everyone an ethereal weekend.”
Rosie O’Donnell called her death “heartbreaking” and said, “I loved her very much.” Fellow Nickelodeon alums Melissa Joan Hart and Kenan Thompson also expressed their condolences.
Our thoughts continue to go out to Trachtenberg's family and loved ones at this time.