Showbiz

Michelle Trachtenberg fired back at health concerns before quietly undergoing a liver transplant ahead of death at 39

Michelle Trachtenberg fired back at health concerns before quietly undergoing a liver transplant ahead of death at 39

Michelle Trachtenberg previously addressed concern over her well-being, just a year before quietly undergoing a liver transplant ahead of her death at age 39. 

In January 2024, she slammed speculation that she was in poor health after some of her followers expressed worry over her seemingly ‘thinning hair’ and ‘yellow eyes.’

In response to an Instagram comment saying that she looked ‘sick’ and asking if she was okay, the Gossip Girl alum replied: ‘Fun fact. This is my face. Not malnutrition no problems. Why do you have [to] hate? Get a calendar.’

While addressing another similar comment, at the time, she reminded her fans that she was 38 not 14 anymore, before inquiring in what way she looked unwell. 

‘How sad for you to leave such a comment,’ she concluded. 

Michelle Trachtenberg previously addressed concern over her well-being, just a year before quietly undergoing a liver transplant ahead of her death at age 39 (pictured in 2023)

Michelle Trachtenberg previously addressed concern over her well-being, just a year before quietly undergoing a liver transplant ahead of her death at age 39 (pictured in 2023)

After firing back at the Instagram user, the Daytime Emmy Award nominee defiantly posted another selfie with the caption: ‘I’ve received several comments recently about my appearance. I have never had plastic surgery. I am happy and healthy. Check yourself haters.’

Michelle uploaded two more selfies she took on Wednesday and, again, fans clarified they’re not worried about plastic surgery or malnutrition but rather her ‘thinning hair and yellow eyes.’

Read MoreBREAKING NEWS Michelle Trachtenberg ᴅᴇᴀᴅ at 39: Buffy and Gossip Girl star pᴀsses away after troubling posts article image

‘Nobody is talking about plastic surgery. They are talking about your liver shutting down,’ Instagram user @efm850916 wrote.

Instagram user @heather_mcgillick agreed: ‘I really don’t think anyone was implying you had plastic surgery. We are generall concerned about you. Your eyes are yellow, your hair is [thinning] majorly, you look sick.’

‘People are just worried that your eyes are yellow and all your hair is falling out,’ Instagram user @go.lden7541 wrote.

‘I think they are worried for your health.’

Instagram user @samj_82_ added: ‘Anyone with yellow eye balls is not well and needs to see a doctor.’

Trachtenberg is best known for her work as Buffy’s (Sarah Michelle Gellar) younger sister Dawn Summers aka ‘The Key’ in 66 episodes of UPN teen supernatural drama Buffy the Vampire Slayer spanning 2000-2003.

In January 2024, she slammed speculation that she was in poor health after some of her followers expressed worry over her seemingly 'thinning hair' and 'yellow eyes'

In January 2024, she slammed speculation that she was in poor health after some of her followers expressed worry over her seemingly ‘thinning hair’ and ‘yellow eyes’

The Brooklyn native also had a recurring role as ‘The Witch of the Upper East Side’ Georgina Sparks in 28 episodes of The CW teen soap Gossip Girl spanning 2008-2012.

In 2023, Michelle reprised her role as the wedding-spoiling, manipulative socialite in two episodes of the second (and final) season of HBO Max’s Gossip Girl reboot.

Trachtenberg’s last major gig was executive producing and hosting the 13-episode true-crime docuseries Meet, Marry, Murder for Tubi TV in 2021.

On Wednesday, Trachtenberg’s rep confirmed her death in a statement.

‘It is with great sadness to confirm that Michelle Trachtenberg has pᴀssed away. The family requests privacy for their loss. There are no further details at this time,’ he said. 

Trachtenberg was found ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Wednesday in her New York City apartment near Columbus Circle just after 8am local time by her mother, police sources told ABC News. 

It was further reported the actress recently underwent a liver transplant and ‘may have been experiencing complications.’ 

'Fun fact. This is my face. Not malnutrition no problems. Why do you have [to] hate? Get a calendar,' she told one Instagram user, who said she looked 'sick' and asked if she was 'ok'

‘Fun fact. This is my face. Not malnutrition no problems. Why do you have [to] hate? Get a calendar,’ she told one Instagram user, who said she looked ‘sick’ and asked if she was ‘ok’

She also reminded the woman that she was 38 not 14 anymore, before inquiring in what way she looked unwell

She also reminded the woman that she was 38 not 14 anymore, before inquiring in what way she looked unwell 

She is believed to have died of natural causes and police are not treating the death as suspicious, sources added to the New York Post.

Trachtenberg was best known for her work as Buffy’s (Sarah Michelle Gellar) younger sister Dawn Summers in 66 episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer from 2000-2003.

She also had a recurring role as ‘The Witch of the Upper East Side’ Georgina Sparks in Gossip Girl spanning 2008-2012.

In recent years Trachtenberg had sparked concern for her health after sharing troubling social media posts in which she looked frail.

In 2023 Michelle reprised her role as the wedding-spoiling, manipulative socialite in two episodes of the second (and final) season of HBO Max’s Gossip Girl reboot.

Trachtenberg’s last major gig was executive producing and hosting the 13-episode true-crime docuseries Meet, Marry, Murder for Tubi TV in 2021.

Trachtenberg was found ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Wednesday in her New York City apartment near Columbus Circle just after 8am local time by her mother, police sources told ABC News

Trachtenberg was found ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Wednesday in her New York City apartment near Columbus Circle just after 8am local time by her mother, police sources told ABC News 

In 2018, she had voiceover gigs on her buddy Seth Green’s animated spoof Robot Chicken on Adult Swim as well as the Facebook Watch animated series Human Kind Of.

Last year the star hit back at ‘haters’ who expressed concern over her health and appearance.

The former child star – who boasts 1.1M Instagram/Twitter followers – wrote’Fun fact. This is my face. Not malnutrition no problems. Why do you have [to] hate? Get a calendar.’

The drama began when Michelle shared a snap of herself about to get her hair done at Tracey Cunningham’s Mèche salon in Beverly Hills.

A fan asked: ‘Michelle [you] look sick. [Are you] ok?’

Trachtenberg replied: ‘@cathy_critz explain to me how I look sick. Did you lose a calendar and not realize I’m not 14? I’m 38. How sad for you to leave such a comment.’

The next day, she posted yet another selfie with the defiant caption: ‘I’ve received several comments recently about my appearance. I have never had plastic surgery. I am happy and healthy. Check yourself haters.’

Her breakout role came as Georgina Sparks on Gossip Girl

Her breakout role came as Georgina Sparks on Gossip Girl

Michelle uploaded two more selfies she took and, again, fans clarified they’re not worried about plastic surgery or malnutrition but rather her ‘thinning hair and yellow eyes.’

Buffy star Michelle Trachtenberg, 38, hits back at ‘haters’ over cruel comments about her ‘thinning hair’ and ‘yellow eyes’

‘Nobody is talking about plastic surgery. They are talking about your liver shutting down,’ one follower wrote.

Another typed: ‘I really don’t think anyone was implying you had plastic surgery. We are generally concerned about you. Your eyes are yellow, your hair is [thinning] majorly, you look sick.’

Trachtenberg pictured with her former Gossip Girl costar Blake Lively

Trachtenberg pictured with her former Gossip Girl costar Blake Lively

‘People are just worried that your eyes are yellow and all your hair is falling out,’ another penned.

‘I think they are worried for your health.’

One follower wrote: ‘Anyone with yellow eye balls is not well and needs to see a doctor.’

Trachtenberg began her acting career aged three on Nickelodeon television series The Adventures of Pete & Pete (1994–1996).

In 1997 aged 11 she won a Young Artist Awards for her performance as Maggie in CBS’ Meego.

Trachtenberg appeared in 66 episodes of Buffy The Vampire Slayer; seen in 2003

Trachtenberg appeared in 66 episodes of Buffy The Vampire Slayer; seen in 2003

The star also appeared in 2004 hit EuroTrip and Buffy The Vampire Slayer, between  2000 and 2003, for which she won another Young Artist Award and three Saturn Award nominations.

Her breakout role came as Georgina Sparks on Gossip Girl.

Trachtenberg was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for her role as host of the Discovery Kids series Truth or Scare (2001–2003).

Her other screen credits include Mysterious Skin (2004) and Black Christmas (2006).

She also starred on the NBC television series Mercy (2009–2010) as Chloe Payne.

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