Michelle Trachtenberg’s cause of death has finally been revealed. The ‘Gossip Girl’ star died due to complications from diabetes mellitus, according to a statement from the New York City’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner released on Wednesday. The former child actress, 39, was found dead by her mother on February 26 in her apartment near Central Park South.
Trachtenberg’s cause of death was determined based on the lab results. However, it still remains unclear whether Trachtenberg, known for her roles in TV series like “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and ‘Gossip Girl”, who had been dealing with health issues before her death, had type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
Death Was Natural
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In the days leading up to her death, Trachtenberg underwent a liver transplant, a surgery typically performed on people suffering from serious liver ailments, often linked to longtime alcohol consumption.
Medical examiners have officially ruled Trachtenberg’s cause of death as “natural” in their latest report.
The revelation comes after Trachtenberg’s family had initially cited their religious beliefs as the reason why they didn’t want the results of her autopsy to be made public.
Days before the actress died, several of her fans expressed their concerns over her health after Trachtenberg shared her photos on Instagram in which she appeared frail and visibly unwell.
Following her death in February, New York Police Department officials told the Daily Mail that they were called to an apartment in Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen area, where Trachtenberg was found “unconscious and unresponsive.”
“On Wednesday, February 26, 2025, at approximately 08:01 hours, police responded to a 911 call of an aided individual at 1 Columbus Place, within the confines of the Midtown North Precinct,’ police said in a statement,” police told the outlet.
“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 Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death. The investigation remains ongoing.”
Gone too Soon
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Trachtenberg’s sudden death left her fans and former colleagues shocked, as tributes poured in from all corners on social media, including stars like Rosie O’Donnell, David Boreanaz, and Melissa Gilbert.
She got her first credited role on the popular 1990s Nickelodeon show “The Adventures of Pete and Pete”, where she played Nona F. Mecklenberg, the quirky friend of the main characters.
She was only nine years old at that time. She made her big-screen debut in 1996 with “Harriet the Spy”, where she played lead character.
Trachtenberg was romantically involved with Jay Cohen, a partner at The Gersh Agency, which is focused on film and distribution. The couple had been together since 2020 and often expressed their love for each other publicly on social media.
