Michelle Trachtenberg’s neighbors ‘shocked’ by secret health battle as they mourn ‘childhood icon’ found dead at 39

BUFFY star Michelle Trachtenberg’s neighbors have paid tribute to the “childhood icon” just hours after the actress’ tragic death on Wednesday in her luxury apartment building.

Residents of the Manhattan high-rise had spotted ambulances outside the building early that morning but told The U.S. Sun Trachtenberg’s death and secret health battle had come as a major shock. 

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Raphael Noufled, 24, said he has lived in the same building for years and Trachtenberg “seemed fine” last time he had seen her.

“She was pretty nice,” Noufled added.

“She seemed normal, she wasn’t like a super closed off person or anything.

“She seemed fine. I didn’t know her personally or anything about her health but she seemed alright. So obviously it was a big shock to hear she passed away this morning.

“I know her from Gossip Girl. That’s the only show I watched from her, but she was obviously a great actress.

“People loved her, people are here to pay their respects.”

Fellow neighbor Katie Wheeler, 38, called Trachtenberg a “childhood icon” and expressed shock at her death at such a young age.

“It’s shocking because I am 38, and she was 39,” she said.

“It’s my age. So many people are dying so young and it’s just shocking that not only did she die so young, but she is also in this building.”

Wheeler said neighbors were taken aback by the medical staff descending on the building and were unaware of what was happening until the news broke elsewhere.

“I texted my friend earlier and said, ‘There’s a coroner’s van here, there’s medical examiner van. I said, what is going on?’” she added.

“My friend texted me, ‘RIP Harriet the Spy,’ because we always would talk about that. Kind of like a childhood icon, like Full House.”

“It was just really sad, I was so sad,” Jane, another neighbor of the star, said. 

“I grew up watching Gossip Girl and some of the other movies she was in as a kid. 

“I felt like I saw every show she was in, and I cannot believe she lived in this building,” the 22-year-old neighbor continued.

“I just had no idea I’m just shocked, like that’s so crazy.”

Trachtenberg is believed to have died of natural causes, with no foul play suspected, after her body was reportedly found by her mother. 

Her cause of death has yet to be announced, but the actress is said to have recently had a liver transplant, ABC News reported.

The operation happened in the last year and Trachtenberg is believed to have been experiencing complications in the aftermath.

Her body may have even rejected the new liver, TMZ reported citing law enforcement sources.

“It is with great sadness that we confirm Michelle Trachtenberg has passed away,” her representative told TMZ.

“The family requests privacy for their loss. There are no further details at this time.”

The actress had been out and about as recently as Thursday, when she visited Italian restaurant Sartiano’s in NYC with friends.

She put on a brave face through her reported health struggles and stayed active on social media, regularly posting pictures on Instagram.

She shared her final photo on Instagram on February 18.

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While Trachtenberg never spoke publicly about her reported liver problems, she previously opened up about other health struggles.

She was pictured wearing a boot on her left foot in 2019 and using a cane to get around – but she never explained the cause of her injury.

She was once again seen using a cane in pictures from Los Angeles events in January and February 2020.

Later in 2022, she shared a picture of her swollen and bruised ankle in an Instagram post.

Fans expressed concern for the Buffy the Vampire Slayer actress in the years before her death and claimed that she looked noticeably different in her posts.

But Trachtenberg hit out, insisting she was fine – and even firing back at nosy critics on social media over a year before her death.

PAYING TRIBUTE

Co-stars of Trachtenberg’s were quick to post tributes to the Buffy the Vampire Slayer actress. 

James Marsters, a co-star on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, posted on Instagram to honor the late actress.

“My heart is heavy today,” he wrote.

“We have lost a beautiful soul. Michelle was fiercely intelligent, howlingly funny, and a very talented person.

“She died much too young, and leaves behind scores of people who knew and loved her.”

Sex and the City star Kim Cattrall, Trachtenberg’s co-star in the hit teen movie Ice Princess, simply posted, “Rest in Peace Michelle.” 

Gossip Girl co-star Ed Westwick also paid tribute by posting a photo of her as Georgina Sparks, commenting, “So sad to hear of the passing of Michelle Trachtenberg. Sending prayers.”

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