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Michelle Trachtenberg’s cause of death to remain unknown as family decline autopsy

Home> Entertainment> Celebrity

Updated 11:34 28 Feb 2025 GMTPublished 11:00 28 Feb 2025 GMT

Michelle Trachtenberg’s cause of death to remain unknown as family decline autopsy

Michelle Trachtenberg passed away at her New York home on Wednesday

Michael Slavin

Michael Slavin

Featured Image Credit: J. Meric/WireImage for Manning, Selvage and Lee

Topics: Michelle Trachtenberg, Entertainment, Film, TV and Film, Celebrity

Michael Slavin
Michael Slavin

Michael Slavin is LADbible's dedicated specialist Film and TV writer. Following his completion of a Masters in International Journalism at Salford University, he began working for the Warrington Guardian as a reporter. Throughout this he did freelance work about Entertainment for publications such as DiscussingFilm, where he was the Film and TV editor. Now, he is LAD's go to voice on all things Netflix, True Crime, and UK TV, as well as interviewing huge global stars such as Jake Gyllenhaal, Daisy Ridley, and Ben Stiller.

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@michaelslavin98

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Michelle Trachtenberg’s cause of death is set to remain unknown.

This news comes following the shocking death of the actor, who was found dead two days ago at just 39 years old.

While there has been a great deal of speculation of what may have caused this, it is likely we will never know as her family have declined an autopsy.

As such, investigators will not be able to further determine what may have caused her death.

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She died at age 39 (Matt Winkelmeyer via Getty Images)
She died at age 39 (Matt Winkelmeyer via Getty Images)

Trachtenberg’s family have declined an autopsy due to religious reasons.

The decision can be overruled by a medical examiner if foul play is suspected, but that was not done in this case.

The actor’s death sent shockwaves across the entertainment world, with reports coming just a day before the similarly shocking death of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa, who were found partially mummified in their Santa Fe home.

Trachtenberg was perhaps best known for starring as Dawn in Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Georgina Sparks in Gossip Girl.

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Her cause of death will not be determined by an autopsy (Presley Ann via Getty Images)
Her cause of death will not be determined by an autopsy (Presley Ann via Getty Images)

Tributes came pouring in after her death, with co-stars and fans alike mourning the young actor.

Her Gossip Girl co-star Blake Lively spoke out in an Instagram story, posting a picture of the pair with the caption: “This was the first day I met Michelle.

“She was electricity. You knew when she entered a room because the vibration changed. Everything she did, she did 200%.

“She laughed the fullest at someone's joke, she faced authority head on when she felt something was wrong, she cared deeply about her work, she was proud to be a part of this community and industry as painful as it could be sometimes, she was fiercely loyal to her friends and brave for those she loved, she was big and bold and distinctly herself.”

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Sarah Michelle Gellar also paid tribute (20th Century Fox)
Sarah Michelle Gellar also paid tribute (20th Century Fox)

She finally added: “The world lost a deeply sensitive and good person in Michelle.

“May her work and her huge heart be remember by those who were lucky enough to experience her fire.”

Sarah Michelle Gellar, her Buffy co-star, also paid tribute to her on screen sister, saying in a tribute: “Michelle, listen to me. Listen. I love you. I will always love you.

“The hardest thing in this world, is to live in it. I will be brave. I will live… for you.”

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The caption, a tribute to quotes from Buffy, left fans emotional, with one posting a comment on Instagram saying: “I’m so sorry for your loss Sarah.”

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