Michelle Trachtenberg, best known for her roles in Gossip Girl and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, was found dead at her New York apartment on Wednesday morning. She was 39.
Authorities responded to a distress call at One Columbus Place around 8 a.m. Upon arrival, they discovered the actress, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Police have stated that her death is not being treated as suspicious, though the cause remains under investigation.
Trachtenberg’s boyfriend, talent manager Jay Cohen, has since addressed the tragedy. Cohen, 63, who had been romantically linked to the actress since 2020, told MailOnline: “The family will not be commenting on the tragedy.”
The couple went public with their relationship on Valentine’s Day 2023, and Trachtenberg had recently shared a heartfelt social media post dedicated to Cohen. In her message, she referred to him as “the man who sits still long enough for me to paint his face,” accompanied by a throwback Halloween photo of them dressed as Jekyll and Hyde.
Reports from ABC News suggest that Trachtenberg may have been dealing with complications from a past liver transplant before her passing. In the weeks leading up to her death, fans expressed concern over her visibly frail appearance in social media posts. Many had commented on her dramatic weight loss, with some questioning whether she was ill.
Tributes have poured in from devastated fans and fellow celebrities. Buffy co-star David Boreanaz shared a heartfelt message, calling her passing “so very sad.” Many fans have described her as a defining figure of early 2000s television, with one writing: “She raised all of us who grew up in the 2000s. May she rest in peace.”
Trachtenberg’s family has yet to release an official statement.
