Michelle Trachtenberg’s Tragic Death Shocks Fans as Health Struggles Revealed

Celebrity Gossips
Amanda Austin
March 1, 2025
9 minutes read

(Omar Vega/Invision/AP)

The unexpected passing of actress Michelle Trachtenberg at age 39 has left fans and loved ones devastated. As details emerge, it has become clear that her death did not come without warning—those close to her say she had been battling health issues for years.

According to sources, the Gossip Girl star had been dealing with persistent medical problems, though the full extent of her condition was not widely known. “We all knew she was sick, but we didn’t realize how sick,” a source told Us Weekly. “For a long while, she had back issues and then bone problems; she fell a few times,” the insider revealed, adding that despite her struggles, Trachtenberg left behind a “significant cultural impact.”

Concerns about her health had been growing for years, with those close to her noticing a pattern. “Every time” they spoke with her over the past decade, she mentioned something “wrong,” another source said. Trachtenberg reportedly split her time between New York and Los Angeles, frequently saying she was focused on “taking care of herself.” However, those who saw her in person began noticing her decline.

“Something felt off,” one acquaintance recalled. “You could sense something was going on when you saw her. She was really frail and had been sick for a while.” Tragically, on February 26, news broke that Trachtenberg had been found unconscious in her Midtown West apartment in New York City. Authorities confirmed that her cause of death remains “not yet apparent,” though foul play is not suspected.

Multiple sources have reported that she had undergone a liver transplant before her passing. Following the heartbreaking news, her close friend Amanda de Cadenet paid tribute to Trachtenberg on social media, reflecting on their last FaceTime conversation from the hospital.

“I will always remember you as the young, vivacious woman I met when I took this photo of you … and seeing your face from the hospital bed when we FaceTimed recently. Even though you did not look like you, your sweetness and humor were still alive,” de Cadenet shared on Instagram.

“I’m so sad for you that the outcome was not a better one. Wishing you a peaceful transition, sweet friend, and may your spirit finally rest.” As tributes continue to pour in, those who knew and loved Trachtenberg are left mourning not only her loss but the difficult health battle she endured in private. Her legacy as an actress and a cherished friend remains, forever etched in the memories of those who adored her.