Actress Found Unresponsive
Michelle Trachtenberg, star of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Gossip Girl, passed away at 39. She was found unresponsive in her New York City apartment on February 26. The NYPD stated there was no foul play and her death appeared to be from natural causes.

Health Struggles and Final Days
Fans noticed she appeared frail in recent social media posts, though she insisted she was “happy and healthy.” A source revealed, “She told friends she was struggling” and was “really, really sick.” A week before her passing, she posted a throwback picture captioned, “I wanted to look like naughty #tinkerbell.”

Medical Complications
Reports indicate she had recently undergone a liver transplant, which may have caused complications. The Medical Examiner ruled her cause of death ‘undetermined’ after her family objected to an autopsy for religious reasons.

Tributes Pour In
Fans and colleagues shared tributes online. One wrote, “Ice Princess was one of my favorite movies growing up. This is devastating.” Another said, “Loved watching Buffy, such a great show.” Trachtenberg is survived by her parents, Lana and Michael, while her longtime partner, Jay Cohen, has not publicly commented.