Trachtenberg, best known for her roles as Georgina Sparks on “Gossip Girl” and Dawn Summers on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” was found dead in her Recent York City apartment on February 26 after going into cardiac arrest. She was just 39 years old.
Two months after news of Trachtenberg’s death broke, Penn Badgley opened up in regards to the loss.
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Penn Badgley Honors Michelle Trachtenberg Nearly Two Months After Her Death
While speaking with E! News on the Season 5 premiere of Netflix’s “You” on Wednesday, the actor described the news as difficult to process.
“It’s surreal,” he said. “Really surreal, really saddening.”
While the 2 hadn’t seen one another in over a decade, Badgley reflected warmly on their time working together and the lasting impression she left behind.
“What I remember of her is she was incredibly quick to laugh,” he shared. “She was really joyous.”
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Penn Badgley Remembers Michelle Trachtenberg’s ‘Pure Heart’
He went on to explain her unique energy, recalling, “All of us have our ups and downs, our lights and shadows, but she had this … I mean, she was mature, but she had this childlike, joyous laugh.”
Perhaps most touching was how Badgley remembered Trachtenberg’s heart.
“She had a extremely pure heart,” he said softly.
The actors shared screen time on the hit CW drama “Gossip Girl,” where Badgley played Dan Humphrey for all six seasons from 2007 to 2012.
Trachtenberg’s scene-stealing character Georgina Sparks was introduced in Season 2 and quickly became a fan-favorite troublemaker, even briefly sparking a romance with Badgley’s character onscreen.
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Blake Vigorous’s Heartfelt Tribute To Michelle
Badgley’s emotional comments come weeks after one other “Gossip Girl” alum, Blake Vigorous, also paid tribute to Trachtenberg with a strong message shared on her Instagram Stories.
Posting a screenshot of the 2 together, Vigorous recalled, “That is the primary day I met Michelle. She was electricity. You recognize when she entered a room since the vibration modified. The whole lot she did, she did 200%.”
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“She laughed the fullest at someone’s joke, she faced authority head on when she felt something was incorrect, she cared deeply about her work, she was proud to be an element of this community and industry as painful because it could possibly be sometimes, she was fiercely loyal to her friends and brave for those she loved, she was big and daring and distinctly herself,” Vigorous wrote.
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Blake Vigorous Urges People To ‘Hold Those You Love Dear’
She even shared a sweet sensory memory.
“She all the time had yummy caramel smelling lip gloss on because she didn’t just wish to sparkle on camera, she liked making a nice experience for anyone who was in her orbit,” she wrote. “Even all the way down to the subtle smell of her lip gloss because she cared in regards to the sweet details.”
Vigorous emphasized, “She was a sort person, through and thru.”
Her tribute closed with a sobering reminder that, “Time passes. You’re taking without any consideration that you just get the possibility to see an old friend. To paraphrase, the actual tragedies in life are those that blindside you on an idle Tuesday.”
“Hold those you’re keen on and have loved dear,” Vigorous urged. “The world lost a deeply sensitive and good person in Michelle. May her work and her huge heart be remembered by those that were lucky enough to experience her fire.”
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Inside The ‘Gossip Girl’ Star’s Final Moments
In keeping with reports, Trachtenberg’s mother discovered her body around 8 a.m. on the morning of February 26.
The actress had gone into cardiac arrest prior to being found, and the NYPD confirmed that officers and paramedics arrived to seek out her “unconscious and unresponsive.” She was pronounced dead on the scene.
On the time, no foul play was suspected, and her passing initially raised questions because of the family’s request for no autopsy. Nonetheless, following lab tests, the Recent York City Medical Examiner’s Office officially ruled her reason for death as complications from diabetes mellitus.
Sources near the star shared that she had been privately fighting health issues, though the extent of those struggles stays unclear.
