Michelle Trachtenberg Was Set to Make Upcoming Appearance During SXSW Festival Before Her Death

Mar. 15, 2025

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Michelle Trachtenbergwas set to make a return to the public eye beforeher sudden deathat 39.

Jennifer Hutchins, the producer of Trachtenberg’s final filmSpyral, confirms to PEOPLE that the actress was scheduled to appear at an upcoming benefit screening of the documentary in Austin, Texas, on March 12.

Hutchins shares that theGossip Girlalum was either going to attend in person or virtually “depending on her health.” Adding, “There was no public announcement planned as we knew it would be a last minute decision if she was up for it.”

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Trachtenberg completed her voice work forSpyralin 2021, which included reading from the diary of filmmaker Randall White’s wife Michelle Cody White, who had undiagnosed bipolar depression prior to her death, according toTMZ, who was first to report the news of Trachtenberg’s planned appearance. The release of the film was delayed to last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the filmmakers are now hoping to find a wide distribution deal.

“Michelle just felt very sweet and easy to talk to,” she adds. “She was telling me about how much she loved her cat and sharing funny stories. She just one of those people that you felt like you instantly knew like an old friend.”

Hutchins hopes others share stories of Trachtenberg, whom she says was an “amazing person,” rather than focus on her “health problems.”

“She’s such an inspiration and an amazing actress and contributed so much to the world,” she concludes.

TMZ reported that the filmmakers will now also honor Trachtenberg at the event, which is set to take place two weeks after her death.

Trachtenberg — who recently hadundergone a liver transplant— wasfound dead in New York Cityon Wednesday, Feb. 26. The New York City Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed to PEOPLE on Feb. 27 that the actress' familyobjected to an autopsy, meaning that her cause of death would be ruled “undetermined.”

The appearance would have marked a return to the spotlight for Trachtenberg, who had been living under the radar prior to her death. A friend of the actress previously told PEOPLE Trachtenberg hadtaken “a step away from Hollywood"in recent years, adding, “She just had the story of childhood stardom. She had a couple roles throughout the last decade, but nothing of real note.”

“She really pulled back from Hollywood [in] the last eight years," the insider noted of Trachtenberg, who reprised Georgina Sparks on Max’sGossip Girlrebootin 2023. “She was a great girl who just never got her footing, just like many childhood stars.”

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The source added theBuffy the Vampire Slayeralum “was a recluse [and] didn’t have many friends.”

“She was an overall great girl. She was always kind, supportive and loving,” the friend added. “It’s so sad. It really is. She was an amazing person.”

A separatesource told PEOPLEthat Trachtenberg had been “really really down emotionally” and had “told friends she was struggling” in the last year. “She was really, really sick and open with those in her circle about how much she was struggling,” the source said.

source: people.com