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At the premiere of the final season of his Netflix series You, Penn Badgley shared heartfelt memories of his late Gossip Girl co-star Michelle Trachtenberg. Michelle, who played Georgina Sparks in Gossip Girl, passed away from diabetes mellitus at 39 years old on February 26, 2025.
Speaking to E! News on April 23, 2025, Badgley remembered the late actress and said:
"What I remember about her was she was incredibly quick to laugh, you know, she was really joyous. Like, we all have our ups and downs, our lights and shadows, but … she had this childlike, joyous laugh. She [was] a really pure heart and it’s surreal."
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Badgley added:
“I hadn’t seen her in over a decade, so you know, I can’t claim to have known her well. But really surreal. Really saddening.”
During the red carpet event, Badgley further talked about the lasting impact Trachtenberg left on him when they worked on the teen drama series.
The passing of Michelle Trachtenberg
The actress Michelle Trachtenberg died of diabetes mellitus complications on February 26, 2025, at the age of 39. However, based on the toxicology report, the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined that her death was caused by diabetic complications.
As per a report by People, Trachtenberg had undergone a liver transplant in 2024. According to Dr. Zinoviy Abelev, Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism at Northwell Health, told the outlet that such procedures can sometimes lead to a condition known as New Onset Diabetes After Transplant (NODAT), influenced by immunosuppressive medications.
An exclusive source informed Us Magazine earlier this month:
"Michelle’s family knew what the cause of death was likely to be, they were aware of her health issues, so it’s not a surprise.”
The source further informed that Michelle Trachtenberg showed signs of declining health throughout multiple months.
The death of the actress led her co-stars, including Blake Lively, to share their tributes. Lively expressed herself via an Instagram Story in February, stating:
“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.”
Lively continued describing how Trachtenberg would express tremendous enthusiasm for her work alongside immense pride for both her community and her industry.
Besides her iconic portrayal of Georgina Sparks in Gossip Girl, Michelle is also known for her early parts in Harriet the Spy and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
