Michelle Trachtenberg‘s cause of death at 39 years old has finally been revealed nearly two months after her tragic passing. The Gossip Girl star is said to have died due to complications from diabetes mellitus, according to a statement from the New York City‘s Office of Chief Medical Examiner.
Officials cited lab results in declaring their findings to Dailymail.com. It was not immediately clear if the entertainer, who had struggled with health issues in the timeframe prior to her passing, had type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
In the timeframe prior to her death, Trachtenberg underwent a liver transplant, a procedure often sought out by people who have severe liver issues, with some as a result of longtime alcohol use (the most common reason people get liver transplants in the U.S., studies show).
Trachtenberg’s cause of death was classified as ‘natural,’ medical examiners said in their latest report.
Trachtenberg’s relatives had past cited religion as a reason why they did not want the results of her autopsy made public.
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The cause of the February death of actress Michelle Trachtenberg has been revealed as diabetes, after her family initially objected to releasing the results. Pictured in LA in 2023
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Trachtenberg – who got her start as a child performer – was pictured weeks before her passing in an Instagram selfie
Authorities with the New York Police Department told Dailymail.com in February that they were summoned to a Manhattan apartment in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood, where Trachtenberg was ‘unconscious and unresponsive.’
Following Trachtenberg’s tragic passing, authorities told Dailymail.com about the course of events that unfolded.
‘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 said.
They added, ‘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.’
Trachtenberg was romantically involved with boyfriend Jay Cohen, a partner at The Gersh Agency who is focused on film and distribution. They had been seeing one another since 2020 and would compliment one another on social media frequently.
The entertainment industry professional after his partner’s passing told DailyMail.com that ‘the family will not be commenting on the tragedy.’
Trachtenberg generally was not one to speak publicly on her private medical battles.
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On February 27, authorities with the New York Police Department said they were summoned to a Manhattan apartment in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood, where the performer was seen ‘unconscious and unresponsive’
Trachtenberg – who got her start as a child performer – was best known for her roles on the shows Gossip Girl and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, alongside Blake Lively and Sarah Michelle Gellar, respectively.
Trachtenberg portrayed Georgina Sparks on Gossip Girl opposite Blake Lively’s character Serena van der Woodsen from 2007-2012.
Prior to that, she played the role of Dawn Summers on Buffy The Vampire Slayer from 2000-2003 opposite Gellar.
Trachtenberg was fondly remembered by her peers as news spread of her premature passing in February.
Gellar used a line from the series to mourn her fallen peer on Instagram.
The actress who played Buffy on the series, wrote, ‘Michelle, listen to me. Listen. I love you.
‘I will always love you. The hardest thing in this world, is to live in it. I will be brave. I will live… for you.’
Lively, who has made headlines for her legal battles over the film It Ends with Us, said of her late costar. ‘You knew when she entered a room because the vibration changed. Everything she did, she did 200%.’
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Trachtenberg – who got her start as a child performer – was best known for her role on the shows Gossip Girl alongside Blake Lively. Pictured in 2009 with Lively in NYC
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Trachtenberg portrayed Georgina Sparks on Gossip Girl opposite Blake Lively’s character Serena van der Woodsen from 2007-2012
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Trachtenberg Dawn Summers on Buffy The Vampire Slayer from 2000-2003. Pictured with the show’s star Sarah Michelle Gellar in 2001 in LA
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The veteran actress was pictured with her boyfriend Jay Cohen, a talent agent
Lively, who is wed to actor Ryan Reynolds, said that ‘the world lost a deeply sensitive and good person in Michelle.
She wrapped up her statement in saying, ‘May her work and her huge heart be remembered by those who were lucky enough to experience her fire.’
Other former costars who paid memorial to the late star included Melissa Joan Hart, James Marsters, Chase Crawford and Rosie O’Donnell.
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