Michelle Trachtenberg Honored By Former Costars After Death

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Michelle Trachtenberg’s friends are still hurting. 

A year after the sad passing of the actress known for Ice Princess at age 39 in February 2025, her former colleagues Sarah Michelle Gellar and Taylor Momsen spoke lovingly about their memories of her.

Taylor, who acted with Michelle in Gossip Girl, shared on Instagram February 26th how strange it is that the body remembers things. She was alone in her hotel room in São Paulo, lost track of the date while on tour, and suddenly felt incredibly sad thinking about Michelle. She then realized it had been a year since Michelle’s passing, and acknowledged how difficult life can be.

Sarah fondly remembered the three decades of memories she shared with her late Buffy the Vampire Slayer colleague, feeling grateful for the time they had together.

Sarah shared old photos of herself and Michelle on Instagram, writing about how quickly Michelle grew up. She remembered watching Michelle become a star with the movie Harriet and how kind she was to her children, always making time to come to their birthday parties even when she likely had more exciting things to do.

The 48-year-old, who has two children – 16-year-old Charlotte and 13-year-old Rocky – with her husband, Freddie Prinze Jr., said she plans to keep sharing memories of Michelle.

I’ll always remember your incredible smile – it lit up your whole face and made everyone around you so happy,” she said. “Even though you were with us for a short time, we’ll make sure your memory lives on.”

Michelle passed away in her New York City apartment on February 26th due to complications from diabetes, according to the city’s Medical Examiner. Reports also indicated she had received a liver transplant several months before her death.

Michelle started acting at the incredibly young age of 3, so her death deeply affected many in the entertainment industry. Kenan Thompson, a star on Saturday Night Live and a former co-star of Michelle’s on Nickelodeon, shared with TopMob News in March 2025 that he was still struggling to accept her loss.

Kenan said he wished he could have offered comfort if she was going through a difficult time. He would have been happy to simply be there to listen or offer support in any way he could.

As he put it, “She’s loved. I just hope that there’s no more pain now.”

For more stars who shared words honoring Michelle, keep reading…

In a heartfelt Instagram post on February 27th, Buffy alum Michelle shared a message of love and resilience. She wrote, “I love you. I will always love you. Life can be incredibly difficult, but I will be brave and live… for you.”

The former Buffy the Vampire Slayer star shared on Instagram that she was heartbroken to hear about Michelle’s death. She remembered Michelle bringing warmth and kindness to the set of the show, and sent her condolences to Michelle’s family and friends.

Michelle was truly special,” the Gossip Girl actress shared on Instagram. “I’ll always remember when she first joined the show – she immediately commanded attention and was incredible. She was a powerful, hilarious, and captivating person. I’m fondly remembering our time together, and this is a devastating loss. Sending all my love.

The Adventures of Pete & Pete alum wrote this about his former costar:

We spent our childhoods creating silly moments and making each other—and everyone around us—laugh. We were natural improvisers, always pretending and joking around. She was especially skilled at playful teasing, constantly tagging people with clothespins.

He explained that his girlfriend was annoyed when he caught his first bass while filming, because he didn’t spend lunch break with her. She retaliated by hiding the cable to his amplifier, making it clear how she felt. He understood her message.

Danny described Michelle as a vibrant and compassionate person who tirelessly championed the needs of others, giving a voice to those who often went unheard.

He shared that Michelle was an inspiring figure, both in her profession and as a person, and that many people would deeply miss her.

The Buffy actress shared on Instagram that she’s deeply saddened by the loss of a wonderful person. She described Michelle as incredibly smart, hilariously funny, and a gifted talent, adding that Michelle’s death at a young age is a devastating loss for everyone who knew and loved her.

James expressed his deepest sympathy to Michelle’s family, acknowledging their immense pain. He asked for privacy for them as they grieve and offered a final farewell, saying she will be greatly missed.

Eliza Dushku, known for her role as Faith on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, shared a heartfelt message on Instagram about a young fan who recently passed away. She wrote, ‘Sweet soul. So young. So heartbreaking. May you rest in peace, little slayer sister.’ She also expressed her sympathy to the family and friends of the fan, whose Instagram handle is MT.

The Underworld actress expressed her sadness on Instagram, writing, “What a heartbreaking show and loss. My heart goes out to her mother. Rest in peace.”

Blake Lively described the late actress as having an incredible presence. ‘She lit up a room,’ Lively wrote on Instagram, ‘and you could feel the energy shift when she walked in. She gave everything her all – whether it was laughing at a joke, standing up for what she believed in, or dedicating herself to her work. She was proud to be part of the entertainment world, even when it was difficult, and she was a fiercely loyal and courageous friend and advocate.’ Lively emphasized that she was unapologetically herself – vibrant, bold, and unique.

Blake recalled Michelle’s lipgloss, describing its pleasant caramel scent. He remembered she wore it because she wanted to make people feel good whenever she was around.

Michelle was a kind and compassionate person, and her loss is deeply felt. We’ll remember her passionate spirit and the impact she had on those who knew her.

It’s heartbreaking to lose someone so young with so much potential,” the former Buffy star shared on Instagram. “It’s truly devastating.

She added that it’s impossible to ignore the huge effect this artist had on people all over the world. Her performances and passion for telling stories will continue to inspire for years to come.

The actress, who played Cordelia in the teen drama, concluded, “Rest easy, Michelle.”

Joshua Jackson, who starred with the actress on the show Mercy, recently posted an old video of her rapping Nicki Minaj’s parts from Robin Thicke’s 2009 song “Shakin’ It for Daddy” while they were driving in a car.

James described Michelle as a remarkably talented and energetic person – funny, quick-witted, and able to instantly concentrate when needed.

He shared that he enjoyed rapping with Michelle because their car rides home were always fun. He even recalled convincing her to let him record one of those drives through the Holland Tunnel and posting it on early Twitter. He fondly remembered her, saying, “This is how I’ll remember you, Michelle.” He then offered his condolences and prayers for her and her family.

The 17 Again actress wrote of her onscreen daughter, “I will miss you, Michelle.”

The fashion designer shared on Instagram that he will always cherish his memories of Michelle, saying she will be deeply loved and missed by countless people.

The Sex and the City alum wrote of her Ice Princess costar, “Rest in peace sweet Michelle.”

Clare, known for her role as Glory on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, shared a heartfelt message on Instagram, saying goodbye and remembering a gifted and kind person who passed away too young. She wrote, “Peace out little one. You’re free to fly now.”

Okay, so I met Blake Lively seventeen years ago, and honestly, I knew right away we’d be best friends. She was just… everything! So incredibly smart and had this amazing sass, but she was also really sensitive and brave. And seriously, the funniest person ever – hilarious! She just had this incredible energy, this fire… she was, and still is, totally awesome.

She always had my back and supported me, no matter what. I’ll miss her terribly, every single day. We really connected, and I’m so thankful to have had such a wonderful friend for so many years.

She also sent a message to Michelle, saying, “You were a genuinely wonderful friend, which is rare, and I can’t believe I’ll never hear from you again. I hope you’re causing a little trouble in heaven for both of us!”

The Nickelodeon star shared the sad news that a former co-star had passed away. He wrote about losing a friend and urged everyone to reach out to their loved ones.

A former co-star of Michelle’s from Harriet the Spy told Us Weekly they were devastated by the news, saying they loved her dearly and knew she had been going through a difficult time recently. They expressed regret that they weren’t able to offer more support.

The actress who played Anya on Buffy expressed her sadness over the passing of her former colleague, saying, ‘I’m so sorry you’re gone so soon.’ She described the loss as a blow to the Buffy cast, saying they’d lost a ‘little sister,’ and fondly remembered her as ‘lovely Mish Mish,’ who was deeply loved.

The actor from Orange Is the New Black remembered her as someone who was both strong-willed and deeply kind to those she cared about. She was a loyal friend, incredibly gifted, and had a wonderfully dark sense of humor, embodying the true spirit of New York City.

Matt said they were very close friends but hadn’t spoken in a long time, though he always believed they would reconnect eventually.

He said he’d been excited to reconnect and see how everyone had changed. “You’ll be deeply missed by a lot of people. I love you, Michelle.”

The Broadway star shared a heartfelt message on Instagram Story, calling someone ‘one of the most precious people’ they’ve ever known and promising to never forget ‘Michelle’.

Michelle’s ex-boyfriend, whom she dated between 2004 and 2006, penned a tribute on social media. 

He shared his sadness about Michelle’s death, describing her as a wonderful person. He cherished their time together and fondly remembered her warm, unique personality and her love for watching ‘Law & Order: SVU’.

He added, “My condolences to her mother Lana and sister Irene! This is an incredible loss!”

We first connected as kids while auditioning for acting roles, and we shared a lot of memorable experiences together, both on set and in our personal lives. We even both ended up pursuing acting in Los Angeles as teenagers. Though we didn’t see each other as much later in life, we always remained close, and I’ll always remember her vibrant, spirited personality and her passion for acting, as shared on Instagram by the Halloweentown actor.

She expressed her love for Michelle’s mother, Lana, and sister, Irene, saying she loved them both very much. She then said goodbye to Michelle, wishing her peace.

Melissa shared her sadness on Instagram after learning about the death of Michelle Trachtenberg, posting an old video from Clarissa Explains It All. She described Trachtenberg as young, gifted, and kind.

She explained that the video was from around 1992, featuring an episode based on her idea about a particularly difficult babysitting job. However, she emphasized that Michelle, the actress, was very different from her on-screen persona and they connected well even then.

The creators of Gossip Girl told NBC News they were heartbroken to hear about Michelle’s death. They remembered her as a very funny, kind, and gifted actress. Her character, Georgina Sparks, quickly became a fan favorite, starting as a one-season antagonist and returning throughout the show’s six seasons as a much-loved part of the series.

They shared that she was a joy to work with and expressed their deep sadness at her passing, sending their condolences to her family.

I’m devastated by the loss of my childhood friend,” the former star of Matilda shared on Instagram. “I’ll always remember Michelle fondly.

Melissa shared a heartfelt message on Instagram remembering her “A Holiday for Love” co-star, Michelle Trachtenberg. She wrote, “Oh Michy… and we lived so close to one another… my heart aches for your family and everyone who loved you.” She also included the hashtag #ripsweetgirl.

Former Gossip Girl star expressed sadness upon learning of Michelle Trachtenberg’s loss, sharing prayers on his Instagram Story on February 25th.

He closed his message with the praying hands and white heart emojis. 

Michelle’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer colleague shared the heartbreaking news of her death on social media, writing, “Horrible news. Rest in peace, and sending prayers to her and her family.”

The former Gossip Girl actor, known for playing Damien Dalgaard, called Michelle’s death a “loss.”

“Michelle was tough and a force,” he added in his Instagram post. “Just a kid, so sad.”

The former cast member of Angel expressed his condolences to the actress’s family and friends, sharing on Instagram, “I’m deeply saddened by her passing. She was a wonderful person who will be remembered for her incredible work and spirit… Rest in peace.”

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2026-02-27 00:21