Kim Cattrall, James Marsters, Kenan Thompson and More Stars React to Michelle Trachtenberg's Death: 'RIP Sweet Beauty'

Mar. 15, 2025

Michelle Trachtenberg’s sudden death is being felt across Hollywood.

Several celebrities paid tribute to theGossip Girlalum after the NYPDconfirmed her deathat age 39 to PEOPLE on Feb. 26.

The late actresswas best knownfor her roles as Georgina Sparks on the CW series and Dawn Summers onBuffy the Vampire Slayer. Her storied career in entertainment began after she landed roles on Nickelodeon’sThe Adventures of Pete & Peteand soap seriesAll My Children.

Since Trachtenberg’s death, both those who knew her and those who were fans of her work have shared messages and memories on social media.

Mara Wilsonposted a short but sweet tribute to the late actress on her Instagram Stories.

“My heart is breaking for my childhood friend,” she wrote over a photo of Trachtenberg. “Your memory will be a blessing, Michelle.”

Danny Tamberelli, her costar fromThe Adventures of Pete & Pete, shared a sweetphotofrom their young days together on Instagram as he recalled growing up alongside Trachtenberg and “learning how to make people laugh together.”

“More importantly, we learned to make each other laugh and pull pranks on everyone. We were doing improv when it was still called playing pretend to get laughs,” he wrote as he recalled some of the many games they’d get up to on set and off. “She was a bright light, firecracker and caring person who spent a lot of time and effort advocating for people who needed a louder voice. Michelle was someone to look up to in this business and to the general world at large. She will be missed. All my love, sympathy and compassion to Lana, Irene and the rest of her family and friends.”

Sex and The Cityalum,Kim Cattrall, also made a brief statement about Trachtenberg’s death.

“This is Heartbreaking. 💔 So talented, much too young,” she commented under Variety’s post onX. “RIP Sweet Beauty. xo.”

Shortly after, Cattrall shared another tribute to Instagram. Alongside a photo of the two inIce Princess, she wrote, “Rest in peace sweet Michelle.”

Lacey Chabert, Trachtenberg’s formerBlack Christmascostar, shared a tribute on her Instagram Stories, featuring a photo of the pair posing with the cast in the 2006 film’s set. “Michelle was so beautiful and lovely. We first met each other as kid actors in NY and had the chance to work together as adults onBlack Christmas,” she began.

“I have so many good memories of her,” Chabert continued. “My heart is absolutely broken for her family and they are in my prayers. She will be so missed.”

Kenan Thompson called Trachtenberg “Our first Nick movie star” in his Instagram tribute, alongside a video of the latter on the network with him. Both got their start through Nickelodeon programming. He alsoincluded an old photoof himself and Trachtenberg. Said Thompson, “Our first Nick movie star has departed us!! She was my friend and now she rests!! 🙏🏾 Check on your people!!! ❤️.”

In a statement shared with PEOPLE, James Marsters,Trachtenberg’s formerBuffycostar, remembered her legacy.

“My heart is heavy today. We have lost a beautiful soul,” he said. “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.”

“My heart goes out to her family who are good people, and are suffering the greatest loss anyone could bear. I hope everyone can give them space to heal in this most difficult time,” he continued, before concluding, “Godspeed Michelle. You are missed.”

Melissa Joan Heart also paid tribute with a scene of herself and Trachtenberg in ’90s sitcomClarissa Explains It All.

“I’m heartbroken to hear of the passing of @michelletrachtenberg!! So young, so talented and so sweet!” she wrote in the caption. “Here is a fun scene from when she was on #ClarissaExplainsItAll.”

Thomas Lennon, who starred alongside Trachtenberg in the 2009 film17 Again, also remembered the actress.

“Michelle lit up every scene in 17 Again,” he shared in an exclusive statement to PEOPLE. “Such a skilled dramatic actress, but she could switch to comedy with the ease of a figure skater.”

Trachtenberg’sHarriet the SpycostarJ. Smith-Cameronrecalled her memories of the late star in a statement shared with PEOPLE.

“I played Mrs. Welch, Harriet’s mother inHarriet the Spy. Michelle had been on a Nickelodeon show calledAdventures of Pete & Pete— but this seemed to be her first lead film role,” she said of the 1996 movie. “She was so excited.”

“Her natural ebullient nature was ratcheted up into giddiness as she tried to learn how to handle all that came with that,” she continued. “She was a very charming little girl. Years later we found each other on social media and connected briefly. She was always very warm toward me. I feel very shocked and unsettled to hear of her passing.”

The film’s director Bronwen Hughes also honored Trachtenberg in a statement, tellingThe Hollywood Reporter: “Michelle was like a lightning bolt of a casting discovery. She had fire, she had spark, she had truth, and she had Harriet’s conviction, like her sense of self. No one else came in the room like that. So she had that acting gene that you can’t really teach. It’s innate, which is not something you find very often.”

Noting that she could “do it all” with “total conviction,” Hughes added: “She was everything that Harriet needed to be, and she never had a false note, and you couldn’t really take your eyes off her. That was magical casting for us.”

Trachtenberg’s formerThe Adventures of Pete & Petecostar Hardy Rawls tells PEOPLE how he remembers her being “a sweet little girl.” He adds, “She had the best mom in the world that always watched out for her. It was funny, I remember watching her andDanny [Tamborelli]together, and it was amazing. They were just two amazing kids. I always had fond memories of her.”

“I literally was kind of moved to tears when I read the other day [that she died],” he added. “I was just amazed at the meteoric rise in her career.”

“Michelle was the absolute sweetest and one of the most supportive people I knew,” he wrote alongside a photo of the late star. “I’m so lucky I got to be her friend. 💔.”

In another social media post, actessMelissa Gilbertshared a throwback photo from the pair’s 1996 filmA Holiday for Love.

“Oh Michy…and we lived so close to one another….” She captioned the photo. “my heart aches for your family and all those who loved you so…”

Trachtenberg’sThe Adventures of Pete & Petecostar Michael C. Maronna wrote viaBluesky, “Respect to a talented actor and a vivacious presence on the set. Michelle’s family was very supportive of her, please send them strength.”

After noting how Trachtenberg’s “incredible talent” shone through her work, Cunningham added that “Michelle’s love for her family and her cherished cats showed the depth of her caring heart” beyond her accomplishments.

“She brought light, laughter, and love into the lives of those around her, and her memory will continue to inspire and uplift us. Rest peacefully, Michelle,” she concluded.

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Guitarist and former child actor Zane Carneywrote a heartfelt tribute on Instagramas well, reminiscing about their time together on the 90s sitcom,Dave’s World,and how they once dated.

Carney said he developed “the biggest crush on Michelle” after seeing Harriet the Spy and “bought all the merch, rewatched it on VHS and hoped that one day I’d meet her so she could be my girlfriend.”

“Within a few weeks, we were boyfriend and girlfriend (I know, I still can’t believe it either). Michelle was my first love,” Carney continued. “For her birthday a few months later, my Dad helped me record a version of the Beatles' ‘Michelle’ which we played over the loudspeakers at her birthday party at The Oakwoods. She ran out of the party half-embarrassed-half-smitten (as kids do) but later revealed how much that meant to her. We stayed in touch all these years and even spoke as recently as October/November 2024.”

Walt Willey, who worked with Trachtenberg during her time onAll My Children,shared a sweet memory of the late actress with PEOPLE.

“I remember Michele, as a competent, seasoned, young performer, who seemed to have a great sense of where she was going,” he said. “Years after she leftAll My children, she came back to the center to visit. I walked into my dressing room and there she was. ‘Dad!’ she exclaimed. We had a nice chat, I got called to set, and when I returned — she was gone.”

AnotherAll My Childrenalum, Darnell Williams, remembered Trachtenberg for her vibrant energy in a statement to PEOPLE.

“Very shocking news,” Williams said. “Michelle was an energetic, talented young actor when I first met her. My heart breaks for her family and loved ones. I’ll keep them all in my thoughts and prayers.”

source: people.com