MICHELLE TRACHTENBERG

(11 October 1985 – 26 February 2025)

The news of actress Michelle Trachtenberg’s passing at age 39 came as a shock to her colleagues and 90s kids everywhere. Sources indicated that she recently underwent a liver transplant. Trachtenberg’s acting career spanned over thirty years and began at the age of three when she appeared in an ad for Wisk laundry detergent. Over 100 commercials later, she landed her first television role at age six, playing a dying child in a 1991 episode of Law & Order. In 1994 she was cast in the Nickelodeon series The Adventures of Pete & Pete. Her big screen debut came in 1996, starring opposite Rosie O’Donnell in the film adaptation of the beloved children’s book Harriet the Spy. In a 2021 interview with Entertainment Tonight, Trachtenberg recalled, “I turned 10 years old on the first day of principal photography of Harriet the Spy. Rosie was my biggest supporter. There was a lot required of me. I'm extremely grateful for the experience.” She earned acclaim for her portrayal of the inquisitive and adventurous Harriet, bringing a natural charm and talent to the role that quickly made her a standout among young Hollywood. In 1999’s live-action adaptation of the animated series Inspector Gadget, she played Penny, niece to Matthew Broderick's Gadget.

Trachtenberg went on to become a key cast member on the revered series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, further cementing her legacy with millennials. She came of age on the big screen in 2004 with outings in the American teen sex comedy EuroTrip and the touching indie darling Mysterious Skin, which delved into the heavy topic of child sexual abuse. She was an Ice Princess for Disney, a scream queen in the remake of Black Christmas, 17 Again with Zac Efron and back on TV as a nurse in Mercy. Following a stint on Weeds, she stepped into her favourite character, the diabolical socialite Georgina Sparks in the series Gossip Girl, a role she later reprised in the show’s reboot. For her final role in 2023, she returned to her Harriet the Spy roots, voicing Dr. Wagner, Harriet's new psychiatrist, in the Apple TV+ animated series. Having never taken an acting lesson or class, Trachtenberg preferred to learn behind the camera and credited honing her craft by watching great movies. “I watch Al Pacino and Meryl Streep. Not necessarily to emulate them, but [to] learn from their facial expressions and how they could command attention within a scene.” Beyond her on-screen work, Trachtenberg was a vocal advocate against bullying, sharing her own personal and professional experiences with fans and encouraging others to remain resilient.

CHAD KENNERK