Michelle Trachtenberg dies at 39

[Runwildboys]

Michelle Trachtenberg, ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ and ‘Gossip Girl’ actress, dead at 39.​

Very sad news. R.I.P., "Little Bit".

 

[Runwildboys]

Please change title to 'dies'.

 

[gtb1943]

Yeah, I was stunned to find out she had just gotten a liver transplant. That is seriously bad. Complications probably did her in.

I was a major fan of BTVS, which never got the credit it deserved. It was a great show.
She played Dawn, Buffy's little sister.
Supposedly not a popular character of the show but so what?
39 is just way too young.
Spike called her Little Bit or Nibblet.

 

[Runwildboys]

Yeah, I was stunned to find out she had just gotten a liver transplant. That is seriously bad. Complications probably did her in.

I was a major fan of BTVS, which never got the credit it deserved. It was a great show.
She played Dawn, Buffy's little sister.
Supposedly not a popular character of the show but so what?
39 is just way too young.
Spike called her Little Bit or Nibblet.

She played a very important role, once she came to being. I loved the story of how she appeared, and I thought she was fantastic as Dawn. She has just the right mix of teenage angst and bubbly personality. She really came into her own in the last 2 seasons.

Other than Buffy, I only saw her in a couple of things, which is a shame. I expected her to become very well known.

 

[gtb1943]

She played a very important role, once she came to being. I loved the story of how she appeared, and I thought she was fantastic as Dawn. She has just the right mix of teenage angst and bubbly personality. She really came into her own in the last 2 seasons.

Other than Buffy, I only saw her in a couple of things, which is a shame. I expected her to become very well known.

it definitely was an important role on Buffy. I never really liked the other things she was in so this is how I remember her. She was only 17 when BTVS ended

 

[Runwildboys]

mods not on the job as they have not changed the title

I was unclear in how I wanted him to change it

 

[nobody]

One of the last pictures she posted, you could see the extreme yellowing of the whites of her eyes. I don't think her replacement liver was working right or she was rejecting it. She was extremely sick. That Jaundicing was extreme. Poor woman. RIP

 

[gtb1943]

One of the last pictures she posted, you could see the extreme yellowing of the whites of her eyes. I don't think her replacement liver was working right or she was rejecting it. She was extremely sick. That Jaundicing was extreme. Poor woman. RIP

did some searching on this and a fair number of people said she did not look well; not because of eating disorder but something else. I wonder what it was that took out her liver in the first place.

 

[Tabascocat]

did some searching on this and a fair number of people said she did not look well; not because of eating disorder but something else. I wonder what it was that took out her liver in the first place.

I heard she was a heavy drinker which led to liver failure. Not sure how true that is.

 

[nobody]

did some searching on this and a fair number of people said she did not look well; not because of eating disorder but something else. I wonder what it was that took out her liver in the first place.

It could be anything. Usually it's either from excessive alcohol to drugs to just plan bad eating with tons of fats and fried foods. But that's not always the case. Apparently even some illnesses can do enough damage to start scarring, cause a fatty liver, and lead to cirrhosis and the need for a transplant. Scary stuff.

She could have been the healthiest eater and still have gotten it.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

I did not watch those shows...But loved Eurotrip.
Sad...way too young to die.

 

[SlammedZero]

I did not watch those shows...But loved Eurotrip.
Sad...way too young to die.

That's where I know her from!!!

Too bad to see. As others have already mentioned, way too young to die.

 

[gtb1943]

I heard she was a heavy drinker which led to liver failure. Not sure how true that is.

her close friends said that was crap about her being a heavy drinker; no one can every show her being drunk. Besides, if she was that much of a drinker, by now it would have been obvious. You cannot hide those effects for years.

 

[darthseinfeld]

her close friends said that was crap about her being a heavy drinker; no one can every show her being drunk. Besides, if she was that much of a drinker, by now it would have been obvious. You cannot hide those effects for years.

She was definitely still a smoke show in her mid 30's. I don't buy the alcoholism either

 

[gtb1943]

She was definitely still a smoke show in her mid 30's. I don't buy the alcoholism either

I am betting something viral maybe? nuts could even be something genetic.
but there were enough photos of her in the last six months that showed she was not well. Transplants are pretty much the last option; livers sometimes will regenerate themselves. So you have to be fairly far gone for a transplant. I am betting there were complications and that is what killed her.

 

[darthseinfeld]

I am betting something viral maybe? nuts could even be something genetic.
but there were enough photos of her in the last six months that showed she was not well. Transplants are pretty much the last option; livers sometimes will regenerate themselves. So you have to be fairly far gone for a transplant. I am betting there were complications and that is what killed her.

Viral or genetics makes sense. Even if she was a heavy drink, that is extremely young to need a kidney transplant

 

[gtb1943]

Viral or genetics makes sense. Even if she was a heavy drink, that is extremely young to need a kidney transplant

Liver man. You would REALLY have to be drinking hugely to kill your liver at that age. and I think she would have to show she has kicked the booze to qualify.

 

[gtb1943]

https://nypost.com/2025/02/26/enter...nd-who-claims-star-was-hospitalized-recently/

not sure if this is completely reliable but it does seem logical