How Did Michelle Trachtenberg Die? What to Know About the Actress’ Rare Cause of Death, 1 Year Later

The 'Gossip Girl' star was found dead in February 2025

NEED TO KNOW

• In February 2025, Michelle Trachtenberg died at age 39
• The actress was known for her roles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Gossip Girl and more
• Her death was the result of complications from diabetes mellitus

Michelle Trachtenberg died at age 39 on Feb. 26, 2025, shocking fans who knew her work across different projects, including Harriet the Spy, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and more.

Police found the Gossip Girl actress dead in a New York City apartment. The officers had responded to a 911 call, and when they arrived, they discovered an unresponsive woman at the residence. Trachtenberg was pronounced dead at the scene and was later identified as the person.

The New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner originally ruled her cause of death "undetermined," and her family refused an autopsy on religious grounds. In April 2025, the coroner confirmed her cause of death via a toxicology test, renewing questions about the star's health.

Here's what to know about Michelle Trachtenberg's death, including the case.

How did Michelle Trachtenberg die?

On April 16, 2025, the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner confirmed that Trachtenberg’s cause of death was ruled natural and was the result of complications of diabetes mellitus.

It is not known what type of diabetes the actress had, as diabetes mellitus refers to "a group of diseases that affect how the body uses blood sugar," according to the Mayo Clinic.

Why didn't Michelle Trachtenberg have an autopsy?

The day after Trachtenberg died, the New York City Medical Examiner's Office told PEOPLE that her family had objected to an autopsy.

Trachtenberg's parents are Jewish immigrants from Germany and Russia, and oftentimes, autopsies are not performed in their faith because bodies are believed to be sacred, as the Los Angeles Times reported.

"If it's a suicide, if it's a natural death [or] those types of cases where no one's going to be prosecuted, the autopsy is not required by law," legal expert Neama Rahmani explained to PEOPLE.

He continued, "The problem is sometimes we've seen autopsies become public, and the family members will actually file lawsuits to keep autopsies private because sometimes there's information in the autopsy that can cast a bad light on the deceased."

Because an autopsy wasn’t performed, the medical examiner was only allowed to conduct an external exam of the actress’ body.

Why did Michelle Trachtenberg have a liver transplant?

Trachtenberg had undergone a liver transplant before she died and may have been experiencing complications, ABC reported. Sources told PEOPLE that the actress had been “struggling” over the last year and was “really really down emotionally.”

"She was really, really sick and open with those in her circle about how much she was struggling," the insider said. They added that Trachtenberg was “pale, gaunt" and "very thin," and had been dealing with "health issues."

Though she never publicly shared that she had been diagnosed with any health conditions, Trachtenberg had defended her appearance on Instagram. Alongside a selfie she shared in January 2024, she wrote, “Fun fact. This is my face. Not malnutrition no problems. Why do you have to hate? Get a calendar."

In a different post, Trachtenberg wrote that she had received “several comments” about her looks and that she was “happy and healthy.” 

How did the medical examiner determine Michelle Trachtenberg's cause of death?

A spokesperson for the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner told PEOPLE that they were able to determine Trachtenberg’s cause of death through toxicology testing, which can be done without an autopsy. 

How common is it to die from diabetes at Michelle Trachtenberg's age?

Though less than 50% of all diabetes-related deaths occur in patients under the age of 70, according to the World Health Organization, the condition can be more dire for those who develop it after a liver transplant.

A 2018 study in the journal Diabetes Therapy found that up to one-third of patients who have undergone a liver transplant develop diabetes, which can increase the risk of transplant failure and death. 

“There’s a name for that. It’s called NODAT, or New Onset Diabetes After Transplant,” Dr. Zinoviy Abelev told PEOPLE after Trachtenberg's cause of death was revealed. “[Patients] are placed on chronic immunosuppressive medications and steroids called prednisone, and we do encounter patients on chronic steroid replacement having elevated blood sugar.” 

The doctor called diabetes "a silent killer,” saying, "A lot of times people don't even recognize the signs of diabetes. It's slow damage to the organs, slow damage to the heart, slow damage to the kidneys, liver, eyes, blood vessels.”

Dr. Abelev concluded, “The only way to prevent this is proper recognition of the symptoms and controlling the blood sugar."

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