Michelle Trachtenberg ‘pulled back from Hollywood’ before tragic death: ‘Never got her footing’

nypost.com:

before her tragic death at age 39.The actress was found by her mother around 8 a.m. Wednesday at One Columbus Place, the Post exclusively confirmed.

It’s believed her body may have rejected a liver transplant, which she received within the last year.“It is with great sadness we confirm that Michelle Trachtenberg has passed away.

The family requests privacy for their loss,” Trachtenberg’s representative, Gary Mantoosh, said in a statement.Her death was ruled “undetermined” on Thursday after her family objected to an autopsy, according to a spokeswoman for the city medical examiner’s office and sources.Trachtenberg had a decades-long career, starring in a slew of iconic roles, including Dawn Summers on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” Georgina Sparks on “Gossip Girl,” and Casey Carlyle in the 2005 film “Ice Princess.”Most notably, perhaps, she starred in 1996’s “Harriet the Spy” alongside Rosie O’Donnell.But, a friend told People that Trachtenberg had taken “a step away from Hollywood” in recent years.“She just had the story of childhood stardom.

She had a couple roles throughout the last decade, but nothing of real note,” the source said.The “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” alum’s last credited role was in 2023 when she reprised her Georgina role on the short-lived “Gossip Girl” reboot on Max.“She really pulled back from Hollywood [in] the last eight years,” they continued. “She was a great girl who just never got her footing, just like many childhood stars.”According to the insider, Trachtenberg “was a recluse [and] didn’t have many friends.”“She was an overall great girl.