The cause of death of actress Michelle Trachtenberg, known for the American drama 'Gossip Girl,' has finally been revealed despite the family's opposition to an autopsy.
According to a statement from the Chief Medical Examiner's Office in New York City on the 16th (local time), 'Gossip Girl' star Michelle Trachtenberg died from complications of diabetes.
Sources told the Daily Mail that it is not yet clear whether the deceased suffered from type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes, as they had struggled with health problems before their death.
Trachtenberg underwent a liver transplant surgery before her death. A liver transplant is a procedure commonly performed on individuals with serious liver diseases, some of whom undergo the surgery due to long-term alcohol consumption, which research indicates is the most common reason for liver transplants in the U.S.
Trachtenberg's family had previously mentioned religious reasons for not wanting the autopsy results to be made public.
Trachtenberg, who started as a child actor, drew fans' sympathy with a gaunt appearance in a selfie shared on Instagram a few weeks before her death.
New York police authorities responded in February to an apartment in the Hell's Kitchen area of Manhattan where Trachtenberg was found in an 'unconscious' state.
The police stated, "At 8:01 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, we responded to a 911 call reporting that a person was down at 1 Columbus Place in the Midtown North precinct."
The police also added, "When officers arrived on the scene, they confirmed that a 39-year-old woman was unresponsive. Paramedics arrived on the scene and pronounced her dead. There are no criminal charges. The medical examiner will investigate the cause of death, and the investigation is ongoing."
Trachtenberg was in a romantic relationship with film industry worker Jay Cohen since 2020.
Trachtenberg also avoided publicly discussing her personal medical issues.
Trachtenberg played Georgina Sparks on 'Gossip Girl' from 2007 to 2012. Previously, she appeared as Dawn Summers on the drama 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' from 2000 to 2003.
As news of her sudden death broke, colleagues expressed their deep condolences.
Sarah Michelle Gellar, the lead in 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer,' mourned her late co-worker on Instagram by quoting a line from the drama. Gellar wrote, "Michelle, listen to me. Listen. I love you."
Blake Lively, the lead in 'Gossip Girl,' paid tribute to the deceased, saying, "I could tell the moment she walked into the room, the air changed. She gave 200% in everything she did. The world has lost a deep and good person named Michelle. I hope those who were lucky enough to experience her passion remember her work and her warm heart."
Other actors who paid tribute to the deceased include Melissa Joan Hart, James Marsters, Chase Crawford, and Rosie O'Donnell.
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