Michelle Trachtenberg's Cause of Death Is Ruled 'Undetermined' After She Dies Suddenly at 39

Mar. 15, 2025

Answers aroundMichelle Trachtenberg’s cause of death may continue to linger.

According to the New York City Medical Examiner’s Office, the actress' family objected to an autopsy, leaving her cause of death to be ruled “undetermined,” PEOPLE confirms.

Due to the family’s request, the medical examiner was only allowed to conduct an external exam of Trachtenberg’s body.

Trachtenberg was 39 when she was found dead in an apartment on Feb. 26. The NYPD previously confirmed to PEOPLE that police responded to a 911 call at 1 Columbus Place around 8 a.m. in New York City. When officers arrived, they found a woman, identified as Trachtenberg, unconscious and unresponsive. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said, at the time, that"criminality is not suspected."

Actress Michelle Trachtenberg arrives at National Geographic Channel presents Los Angeles premiere of ‘Killing Kennedy’ on Nov. 4, 2013 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Rodrigo Vaz/FilmMagic

Rodrigo Vaz/FilmMagic

“She was really, really sick and open with those in her circle about how much she was struggling,” the source said. “She was “pale, gaunt, very thin, and dealing with health issues.”

Trachtenberg is best known for her roles as Georgina Sparks onGossip Girland Dawn Summers onBuffy the Vampire Slayer. She made her breakthrough as the titular character inHarriet the Spyin 1996, alongside industry greatsRosie O’DonnellandJ. Smith-Cameron.

Kevin Winter/Getty

She also starred inEuroTrip,17 AgainandIce Princess. Her last credited role was in theGossip Girlreboot in 2023, in which she reprised her infamous character in two episodes.

Michelle Trachtenberg as Georgina Sparks in ‘Gossip Girl’.Giovanni Rufino/THE CW

Giovanni Rufino/THE CW

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Several stars paid tributeto Trachtenberg after her sudden death, including herGossip GirlcostarsBlake LivelyandEd Westwick.

“This was the first day I met Michelle,“wrote Lively in her Instagram tribute. “She was electricity. You knew when she entered a room because the vibration changed. Everything she did, she did 200%.”

Continued Lively, “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.”

“The world lost a deeply sensitive and good person in Michelle,” she added, in part.

Westwick told PEOPLE in a statement: “‘It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Michelle but I remember a talented, sharp, funny and warm soul. Thinking of her and the family. So sad.”

Her formerBuffy the Vampire SlayercostarsSarah Michelle Gellar,James MarstersandDavid Boreanazalsoshared tributes in her honor.

Gellar, who played Buffy,paid tribute to herwith a carousel ofphotosfrom their time on the show together on Instagram. In the caption, she quotedthe season 5 finale episode ofBuffyin which Buffy sacrifices herself for Dawn.

“Michelle, listen to me. Listen. I love you. I will always love you,” Gellar wrote to Trachtenberg, “The hardest thing in this world, is to live in it. I will be brave. I will live… for you. 💔💔💔🗝️” she wrote.

Marsters, who played Spike on the show, said in a statement, “My heart is heavy today. 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.”

Boreanaz — who played the vampire Angel — also reacted to her death, writing on his Instagram Story, “So very sad …horrible news. RIP and prayers to her and her family.”

Elizabeth Rosner

source: people.com