The prolific U.S. actress Michelle Trachtenberg has died as a result of complications from diabetes according to the office of the New York City medical examiner.
In February, the 39-year-old actress was discovered “unconscious and unresponsive” in her apartment in New York City.
Trachtenberg’s cause of death was determined by toxicological testing, according to officials, who did not conduct a post-mortem examination.
The American actress gained notoriety for her portrayal of Dawn Summers, the younger sister of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and then played the adult manipulative socialite Georgina Sparks in Gossip Girl.
According to reports, Trachtenberg’s Orthodox Jewish family had protested an autopsy for religious reasons. The medical examiner did not overrule the relatives’ objection because there was no indication of foul play.
It’s unknown exactly when the operation took place or why. Fans were horrified by Trachtenberg’s unexpected passing. She became well-known as a child star after making her debut in several Nickelodeon productions, such as the movie Harriet the Spy.
In the early 2000s, she was nominated for several acting awards – including a Daytime Emmy Award – for her role in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
She also starred in films including EuroTrip, Ice Princess, Killing Kennedy, and Sister Cities.
Following her death, fellow actors paid tribute.
Blake Lively, a Gossip Girl co-star, said everything Trachtenberg did “she did 200%”.
“She laughed the fullest at someone’s joke… she cared deeply about her work, she was fiercely loyal to her friends and brave for those she loved, she was big and bold and distinctly herself,” Lively wrote on social media.