One year before her death at age 39, Michelle Trachtenberg shut down criticism about her appearance and health.
In a post on Instagram at the beginning of 2024, the Gossip Girl actress wrote alongside a selfie: “Fun fact. This is my face. Not malnutrition no problems. Why do you have to hate? Get a calendar.”
In a separate post defending herself, she wrote with a similar selfie and pink highlight hairdo, “I’ve received several comments recently about my appearance. I have never had plastic surgery I am happy and healthy. Check yourself haters.”
The comments, which began a few days before her post and continued up until her death, called out Trachtenberg’s weight loss, jaundiced eyes, and “chapped lips,” among other things.
One user even pointed out that they were concerned about her eye appearance, writing, “Sure it’s not a liver issue here? Not trying to be mean just looks worrisome.”
Despite her response assuring followers that she was happy and healthy, the Buffy the Vampire Slayer actress was found dead in New York City around 8 a.m. on Feb. 26.
“Upon arrival, officers observed a 39-year-old female unconscious and unresponsive. EMS responded to the location and pronounced the victim deceased. Criminality is not suspected,” the NYPD confirmed to PEOPLE.
Though her cause of death has not been confirmed by authorities and the investigation remains ongoing, police sources told ABC News Trachtenberg recently underwent a liver transplant and may have been experiencing complications.
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The actress was best known for her roles as Georgina Sparks on Gossip Girl and Dawn Summers on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. However, she got her start in commercials before landing her roles on Nickelodeon’s The Adventures of Pete & Pete and on All My Children.
Her big breakout as the titular character in Harriet the Spy came in 1996. She also had several other prominent roles across film and television over the years, including in EuroTrip, 17 Again and Ice Princess.
Trachtenberg’s last credited role was in 2023, reprising Georgina Sparks on Max’s Gossip Girl reboot.
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