Gossip Girl and Buffy the Vampire Slayer star Michelle Trachtenberg dies aged 39

Michelle Trachtenberg, best known for her roles in Gossip Girl and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, has passed away.

The actress, who first shot to fame as a three-year-old on Nickelodeon, was just 39 years old.

According to an NYPD statement, police responded to a 911 call at 8.00am local time about an unresponsive woman at a residence in Manhattan.

When officers arrived, they found the actor unconscious and she was pronounced dead at the scene.

The statement adds: "Criminality is not suspected. The Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death. The investigation remains ongoing.”

Tributes have already began to pour in for the actress, with her Gossip Girl co-star Ed Westwick saying in an Instagram post: "So sad to hear of the passing of @michelletrachtenberg. Sending prayers."

Michelle Trachtenberg has reportedly passed away (Gilbert Flores/WWD via Getty Images)

Fans have also been flooding social media with their condolences, as one said: "Completely shocking and heartbreaking. Grew up watching Michelle Trachtenberg. She was truly talented. May she rest in peace."

Another added: "Rest in peace Michelle Trachtenberg. Thank you for the childhood memories. Fly high."

A third wrote: "A terrible loss for all of those who grew up watching her on TV and Film. May she rest in peace and may God gives strength to her family and friends."

And a fourth commented: "Michelle Trachtenberg was a legend. RIP."

Trachtenberg, from New York, began her career in the entertainment industry when she was just a toddler and went on to score a host of huge roles in her adult life.

Kicking off by starring in more than 100 commercials, she soon bagged her first TV role and earned a spot in the second season of Law & Order.

This was followed by her gig on the Nickelodeon series The Adventures of Pete & Pete, spanning from 1994 until 1996 and securing her spot as a promising child star.

The late star seen alongside Leighton Meester in Gossip Girl (Warner Bros. Television)

With credits including Harriet the Spy, Inspector Gadget, Can't Be Heaven, EuroTrip and Ice Princess, Trachtenberg also firmly made her mark on the film world too.

One of her most memorable roles came in 2000, when she starred in the hit TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer as Dawn Summers.

Trachtenberg also earned an army of fans following her memorable stint on Gossip Girl as Georgina Sparks and the actress became renowned across the globe for her acting prowess.

Music fans may also remember that she appeared in Fall Out Boy's video for 'This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race' as well as in Ringside's video for 'Tired of Being Sorry', which Joaquin Phoenix directed.

Trachtenberg also starred in the 2009 film 17 Again alongside Zac Efron, as well as enjoying roles in Cop Out, The Scribbler and Criminal Minds.

She appeared to take a step back from the spot light in recent years, with her last role being in the short-lived revival series of Gossip Girl in 2021.

The series was later cancelled by HBO in January 2023.

LADbible Group has contacted NYPD and Trachtenberg's representatives for comment.