Former cast members such as “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Gossip Girl” remember their co-stars Michel Tratchenberg After news of her death on Wednesday.
Trachtenberg, 39, was found to not respond at his Manhattan home on Wednesday morning, the New York City Police Department said. The crime is not suspected, they said.
Trachtenberg began his childhood acting career. At just 11 years old, she won the breakout role as Harriet in the 1996 film Harriet the Spy.
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She played a role in dozens of TV series and films, especially Buffy’s sister, Dawn, and “Gossip Girl” to keep Georgina from sparking.
Sarah Michelle Geller, who starred as Buffy, lamented Trachtenberg’s death in an Instagram post, referring to the quote she was told by the Trachtenberg character in the show’s season 5 finale.
“Michel, listen to me. Listen. I love you. I love you all the time. The hardest thing in this world is to live there. I will be brave. I will live for you,” she wrote.
Other “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” co-stars also paid tribute to Trachtenberg.
Allison Hannigan, who played Willow Rosenberg in the series, wrote that she was “deeply saddened” by Trachtenberg’s death.
“She brought affectionate energy to Buffy’s set. My thoughts are with Michelle’s family and friends,” she wrote.
“My heart is heavy today,” James Masters wrote. He starred as Spike in “Buffy.” “We lost our beautiful soul. Michelle was a fiercely intelligent, how-hearted, yet extremely talented. She died so young, leaving us with the scores of those who know and love her.”
The Trachtenberg co-stars of “Gossip Girl” shared similar sentiments.
Blake Lively, who played Serena van der Woodsen in the series, wrote in her Instagram story that Trachtenberg was “electric.”
“You knew when she entered the room because the vibrations changed. Everything she did, she did 200%,” she said. “The world has lost a deep, sensitive and good person in Michelle. Her work and her enormous heart may be remembered by those who were lucky enough to experience her fire.”
Chase Crawford, a companion to the “Gossip Girl” called Trachtenberg, is known as the “power of nature.”
“Michelle was kind of one. I remember that she was the first time she came on set and absolutely owned it. She was a force of nature, and it wasn’t very interesting and magnetic.
Other actors who worked with Trachtenberg early in her career also shared their reactions.
Rosie O’Donnell, who starred alongside Trutchenberg in “Harriet the Spy,” told CBS News that Trachtenberg’s death was “heartbreaking.”
“I loved her so much. She’s had a hard time with her last few years, I wish she could help,” she said. O’Donnell didn’t say what those struggles were.
Melissa Joan Hart shared a clip of Trutchenberg with her on the 90s sitcom Clarissa Explains It All, with the young star writing “So talented and so sweet.”
“This was in 1992 and I think the episode was an idea about babysitting a full nightmare. But Michelle wasn’t like her character, and even this young man, we got along great terms,” she said.
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