Michelle Trachtenberg’s Cause of Death Revealed (2025)

Michelle Trachtenberg‘s cause of death has been revealed.

The Gossip Girl actress died from complications of diabetes mellitus, the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter on Wednesday. Her death was ruled as natural.

The medical examiner’s office told ABC News no autopsy was performed, but toxicology test results provided additional information surrounding her cause of death.

This comes nearly two months after Trachtenberg’s unexpected death at age 39 in February. “It is with great sadness to confirm that Michelle Trachtenberg has passed away,” her rep confirmed toTHRat the time. “The family requests privacy for their loss. There are no further details at this time.”

ABC News previously reported that the Buffy the Vampire Slayer actress was found dead in her New York City apartment by her mother. Her family previously objected to an autopsy for religious reasons, so the medical examiner limited the investigation to an external examination, as no foul play was suspected surrounding her death, the outlet reported.

Trachtenberg, who appeared in dozens of projects throughout her career, got her start as a child actor, appearing in her first feature film at age 10 in 1996’sHarriet the Spy. As a young star, she also appeared in The Adventures of Pete & Pete, All My Children and Meego before leading the Disney movie Ice Princess.

She also played Dawn Summers in the final three seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the hit series led by Sarah Michelle Gellar. She later played manipulative socialite Georgina Sparks in the popular show Gossip Girl, which ran from 2007 to 2012, before later making a guest appearance in the Gossip Girl remake, which ran from 2021 to 2023. Her other onscreen credits included Six Feet Under, Mercy, Weeds, Sleepy Hollow and Guidance, among others.