Michelle Trachtenberg, the actress who rose to fame as a child star in Harriet the Spy and later gained recognition for her roles in Gossip Girl and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, has died at the age of 39, according to New York City police.
Officers responded to a 911 call early Wednesday morning and found Trachtenberg unconscious and unresponsive in a Manhattan apartment, an NYPD spokesperson said. Emergency medical services arrived and pronounced her dead at the scene.
Though the investigation remains ongoing "criminality is not suspected" police stated. The official cause of death will be determined by the Medical Examiner’s office.
Trachtenberg first captured audiences with her comedic timing, making her a natural fit for "Nickelodeon’s ‘90s" lineup. She gained early attention on "The Adventures of Pete & Pete" before starring in Nickelodeon's first feature film, "Harriet the Spy" (1996), alongside Rosie O’Donnell and J. Smith-Cameron.
In 2000, she took on the role of Dawn Summers, Buffy’s younger sister, on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer".
Transitioning into more mature roles, she starred in "Eurotrip" (2004), "Six Feet Under" (2005), and "Ice Princess" (2005).
Her moment of reinvention arrived thanks to "Gossip Girl", where she played the villainous Georgina Sparks, a scheming socialite who stirred up some of the show’s most memorable moments. “It’s definitely a lot more fun than playing the good girl,” she told Seventeen magazine in 2009.
Most recently, Trachtenberg reprised her role as Georgina in HBO Max’s Gossip Girl revival.
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Italians gather to honour all who resisted fascism — including the forgotten Azerbaijani soldiers of Monte di Nese, each year. Their names may be lost, but their struggle for freedom is etched into the memory of this land.
Britain's King Charles has called on the world to work toward lasting peace and preventing future wars during a speech marking the end of four days of events celebrating the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day.
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