Michelle Trachtenberg’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer co-stars have shared tributes mourning the death of their ‘little sister’.
Trachtenberg was tragically found dead at the age of 39 by emergency services at One Columbus Place, New York, at around 8am on Wednesday (February 26), the NYPD has confirmed.
Police said her death is not being treated as suspicious and an autopsy will determine her cause of death.
In a statement, Trachtenberg’s representatives said: “It is with great sadness to confirm that Michelle Trachtenberg has passed away. The family requests privacy for their loss.”
Tributes have since been flooding in for the TV star, who joined the fifth season of the supernatural drama as Dawn Summers, Buffy’s younger sister.
Emma Caulfield shared this snap of her former co-star (Instagram/@emmacaulfieldofficial)
Emma Caulfield, who starred as Anya Jenkins, said the cast had ‘lost a little sister’ in a post on Instagram.
Caulfield wrote: “I’m so sorry your bright light died so young. Our Buffy family lost a little sister today.
“Rest in peace lovely Mish Mish. You were loved.”
Actress Alyson Hannigan, who played Willow Rosenberg in the show, also shared some nostalgic snaps of Trachtenberg including pics from when they shared scenes together.
Hannigan said: “I am deeply saddened by the news of Michelle’s passing.
“She brought a loving energy to the set of Buffy. My thoughts are with Michelle’s family and friends.”
Meanwhile, James Marsters, who played the British vampire Spike, shared a selfie of the pair and described his co-star as a ‘beautiful soul’.
“My heart is heavy today,” he wrote. “We have lost a beautiful soul.
“Michelle was fiercely intelligent, howlingly funny, and a very talented person. She died much too young and leaves behind scores of people who knew and loved her.
“My heart goes out to her family who are good people and are suffering the greatest loss anyone could bear.
“I hope everyone can give them space to heal in this most difficult time. Godspeed Michelle. You are missed.”
James Marsters shared this selfie with Trachtenberg (Instagram/@realjamesmarsters)
Other famous celebs who worked with Trachtenberg have also penned heartbreaking tributes, including her Gossip Girl co-star, Blake Lively, who described her old friend as ‘kind’ and ‘electric’ who ‘laughed the fullest’.
Ed Westwick, who played Chuck Bass on the hit American teen drama, added he was ‘sending prayers’ after learning of her death.
Sex and the City star, Kim Cattrall, who shared a photo of the two from the film Ice Princess, wrote: “Rest in peace sweet Michelle.”
US comedian, Rosie O’Donnell, who starred in the 1996 movie Harriet the Spy with Trachtenberg, said her death was ‘heartbreaking’.
“I loved her very much,” O’Donnell said in a statement to People. “She struggled the last few years. I wish I could have helped.”
The tragic news comes as Buffy actress Sarah Michelle Gellar, 47, teased on social media that she is ‘on the path’ to reviving the show with a team of ‘four unbelievably talented women’.
Sarah Michelle Gellar and Trachtenberg in 2008 (Jean-Paul Aussenard/WireImage)
Trachtenberg rose to fame from the young age of three, appearing in Nickelodeon television series Adventures of Pete and Pete which aired from 1994 to 1996, followed by the 2004 movie, Eurotrip.
She hit global success for her roles as Georgina Sparks in Gossip Girl and as Dawn Summers in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the latter of which saw her nominated for three Saturn Awards and bag a Young Artist Award.
Trachtenberg also voiced the character of Judy Reilly in American adult animated comedy series Human Kind Of which premiered on Facebook Watch and starred in movies such as 2005’s Ice Princess and appeared in 17 Again (2009) alongside Zac Efron.
Blake Lively has issued a heartbreaking tribute to her former Gossip Girl co-star Michelle Trachtenberg.
Lively has paid homage to Trachtenberg after the 39-year-old actress was found dead at One Columbus Place, New York, at around 8am yesterday, (February 26).
Police have confirmed they are not investigating the TV star’s death as suspicious and a medical examiner will determine the cause of death.
Trachtenberg’s representatives said: “It is with great sadness to confirm that Michelle Trachtenberg has passed away. The family requests privacy for their loss.”
Blake Lively and Michelle Trachtenberg in 2009 (Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
Now taking to Instagram, Lively has reflected on her old friend’s ‘kind’ and ‘electric’ spirit.
Sharing a snap of the pair from the day they met almost two decades ago on the set of the hit drama, she wrote: “This is the first day I met Michelle. She was electricity. You knew when she entered a room because the vibration changed. Everything she did, she did 200 percent.”
The mom-of-four continued: “She laughed the fullest at someone’s joke, she faced authority head on when she felt something was wrong, she cared deeply about her work, she was proud to be a part of this community and industry as painful as it could be sometimes, she was fiercely loyal to her friends and brave for those she loved, she was big and bold and distinctly herself.”
Lively’s tribute on Instagram for her friend (Instagram/@blakelively)
Lively said the Buffy the Vampire Slayer star ‘always’ donned ‘yummy caramel smelling lipgloss’, not only to ‘sparkle on camera’ but because ‘she liked creating a nice experience for anyone who was in her orbit, even down to the subtle smell of her lipgloss because she cared about the sweet details’.
“She was a kind person, through and through,” she added.
Touching on the sudden and tragic loss of Trachtenberg, Lively encouraged her 44 million followers to ‘hold those you love’.
“Time passes,” Lively continued. “You take for granted that you get the chance to see an old friend. To paraphrase, the real tragedies in life are the ones that blindside you on an idle Tuesday.”
“The world lost a deeply sensitive and good person in Michelle. May her work and her huge heart be remembered by those who were lucky enough to experience her fire,” her moving post concluded.
The actor has died at the age of 39 (MICHAEL TRAN/AFP via Getty Images)
Another Gossip Girl co-star, Ed Westwick, also reacted to the tragic news, writing on his Story: “So sad to hear of the passing of @michelletrachtenberg sending prayers,” accompanied with a prayer emoji and a white heart.
Trachtenberg sparked her acting debut at the young age of three, appearing in Nickelodeon television series Adventures of Pete and Pete which aired from 1994 to 1996.
She then appeared in several Nickelodeon productions, starring in the 2004 release Eurotrip before shooting to fame for her roles in Gossip Girl and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the latter of which saw her nominated for three Saturn Awards and bag a Young Artist Award.
Trachtenberg also voiced the character of Judy Reilly in American adult animated comedy series Human Kind Of which premiered on Facebook Watch and starred in movies such as 2005’s Ice Princess and appeared in 17 Again (2009) alongside Zac Efron.
Her loss has also been keenly felt by fans, who took to social media yesterday to post their own tributes about the ‘legendary’ and ‘talented’ actress.
Sarah Michelle Gellar is reportedly in talks to reprise her role as Buffy the Vampire Slayer for a sequel of the hit cult show.
It’s been 22 years since the star last graced our screens as Buffy Summers in the popular TV show, which ran from 1997 to 2003.
Created by Avengers director, Joss Whedon, Gellar starred as Buffy, a slayer destined to battle supernatural entities, enlisting the help of her faithful friends along the way, all while trying to be a normal teenage girl.
Alyson Hannigan, David Boreanaz, Nicholas Brendon, Charisma Carpenter and James Marsters also starred alongside Gellar for its seven-season run.
It even had a few famous guest stars, including Pedro Pascal, Amy Adams and Ben Affleck – though his one line was dubbed over without his knowledge.
The franchise also spawned a spin-off show in the form of Angel, focusing on David Boreanaz’s character.
For people who grew up in the noughties, Gellar is the quintessential Buffy, so when Variety reported that a Buffy sequel is ‘nearing a pilot order’ at Hulu, with sources claiming Gellar is in ‘final talks’ to return to her iconic role – as well as executive produce – people were delighted.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer ran for seven sevens between 1997 and 2003 (Warner Bros/Getty Images)
Nomadland’s Chloé Zhao is set to direct the new project, while Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D’s Nora Zuckerman and Lila Zuckerman will serve as writers, showrunners and executive producers.
But the untitled project would see Gellar potentially feature in a recurring role rather than the lead, with a new slayer being the focus of the series, Variety further claimed.
But even the most die-hard fanatics appeared to have one simple question: Why?
Taking to social media, fans were quick to share their thoughts on the potential reboot.
Sarah Michelle Gellar is reportedly in ‘final talks’ for a Buffy return (Getty Images)
One person posted to X: “Imo some things – like Buffy – are sacred and should be left as they were. Everyone involved in this could have the best of intentions…but please leave her be!”
A second agreed: “If [Sarah Michelle Gellar] is not the main role then cancel it I’m so serious,” adding that they want to see ‘Buffy in her 40s still kicking ass.’
A third agreed, pleading producers to ‘keep the show centered around her.’
Ironically, back in 2023, Gellar herself shut down rumors of a Buffy revival, claiming it ‘doesn’t need to be done.’
Meanwhile, others were curious as to whether Whedon would be involved in the new project.
The director has faced allegations of abusive behavior and workplace harassment from his colleagues, ex-wife and even a few Buffy cast members, including Carpenter.
Fans want Sarah Michelle Gellar’s Buffy to be the focus of the sequel (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)
In February 2021, the star claimed the show creator had made passive-aggressive comments toward her while filming Angel, allegedly calling her ‘fat’ when she was four months pregnant, and accusing her of ‘sabotaging the show’ before ‘unceremoniously fired [her] the following season’, according to The Independent.
Whedon has denied the allegations made against him, and in an interview with Vulture, he said: “If I am upsetting somebody, it will be a problem for me.”
He also told New York Magazine (via Deadline) that his experiences with Carpenter were ‘delightful and charming’.
He said: “She struggled sometimes with her lines, but nobody could hit a punch line harder than her,” adding that he ‘did not call her fat’.
Whedon is noticeably absent from the sequel’s creative team and doesn’t appear to be at all involved.
Should the Buffy reboot go ahead, it’ll join Prison Break as the latest series to be revived on Hulu.
Bill Hader has revealed why he isn’t at SNL‘s 50th anniversary show as fans were disappointed to see he wasn’t on the guest list alongside other major stars from years gone by.
The long-running NBC show is set to celebrate its milestone anniversary with a whole host of celebrity guests in a three-hour special, broadcasting from 8pm EST on – unusually – Sunday, February 16.
Hader enjoyed a hugely successful eight-year stint on the TV sketch show, most notably entertaining the US and beyond as New York City nightclub correspondent Stefon Meyers in his Weekend Update segments.
The star’s run on the show earned him an impressive four Primetime Emmy Award nominations.
Yet the 46-year-old was noticeably absent from Saturday Night Live‘s anniversary line-up.
Bill Hader as Stefon during SNL’s Weekend Update (NBC)
The show teased its sensational line-up of stars with a short YouTube clip on Monday – but there was no sign of Hader.
The omission didn’t slip by eagle-eyed fans, who took to social media to share their disappointment.
Posting to X, one fan wrote: “Where is Bill Hader? I want a Stefon comeback,” as a second agreed: “I’m going to crash out if they don’t announce Bill Hader soon.”
Unfortunately, though, the Hollywood star won’t be appearing on SNL this Sunday.
Hader’s publicist, Matt Labov, confirmed to UNILAD Hader’s absence was due to a ‘longstanding schedule conflict.’
Bill Hader was an SNL fan-favorite (Dana Edelson/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)
The HBO Barry actor left SNL in 2013 and previously revealed to Variety he was ‘consumed with work and anxiety.’
Hader said he didn’t feel comfortable with the show’s live element until five seasons in – and began suffering panic attacks both on and offstage.
Ultimately, he left SNL after the birth of his and now ex-wife Maggie Carey’s second child.
He told the publication at the time he doesn’t watch his own SNL sketches back.
“Any time someone says things to me that I don’t understand, I go, ‘Did I say that on SNL?’” he said.
“I never saw any of the stuff I did. I think a nanny showed my kids Stefon, or the Californians or something.
“They came in and were like, ‘Dad, look at this.’ I was like, ‘Oh, yeah. There I am.’”
Who is featuring in SNL’s 50th Anniversary special?
Sunday’s show features a star-studded cast, including Jimmy Fallon, Amy Poehler, Eddie Murphy, Fred Armisen, Molly Shannon, Kristen Wiig, Adam Sandler, Laraine Newman, Chevy Chase, Jane Curtin and Garrett Morris.
Will Ferrell, Maya Rudolph, Pete Davison, Tracy Morgan, Tina Fey, Will Forte, Kate McKinnon, Andy Samberg, Seth Meyers, Kenan Thompson, Jason Sudeikis and Chris Rock will also make an appearance.
Stars who’ve previously taken the reigns as hosts of the show will also return, including Adam Driver, Ayo Edebiri, Bad Bunny, Dave Chappelle, John Mulaney, Kim Kardashian, Martin Short, Miley Cyrus, Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, Pedro Pascal, Peyton Manning, Quinta Brunson, Robert De Niro, Sabrina Carpenter, Scarlett Johansson, Steve Martin, Tom Hanks and Woody Harrelson.
