RIP Michelle Trachtenberg, Dawn in Buffy, Dead at 39

[DigificWriter]

I first saw this news on Facebook via a post from IGN and had to do some searching to make sure it wasn't a hoax.

It's really sad because she wasn't that much younger than I am.

 

[HotRod]

Far too young. RIP.

 

[DonIago]

I was going to share this news here, but obviously it's already known.

Terrible, just terrible.

I vividly remember her from both BtVS and "Six Feet Under" (where it was kind of a shock to see 'Dawn' behaving as a proper adult).

Rest in peace, Miss Trachtenberg.

 

[CoveTom]

This is so sad. I am a huge Buffy fan from back in the day. Way, way too young.

Requiescat in pace.

 

[Evil Robert]

This one actually goes home hard.

Michelle was a firm part of my teenage years and it felt like I grew up beside her.

And as somebody that lost a family member after a liver transplant didn't take, I only feel empathy for what her family must be going through.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

This very forum got me to start watching Buffy somewhere around season five. Like a lot of people, I had dismissed it, but then a lot of people I liked really enjoyed it, so I gave it a shot. It became one of my favorite shows. When Buffy and Angel were both airing, those were good times watching, then posting on here.

There was so much discussion around the show in those days, with threads for each episode as they aired. I remember all of the debate surrounding Dawn's addition.

It's weird to realize how long ago that was. She was just a baby.

39 is entirely too young.

 

[Newt]

Very sad news. Too young. RIP

 

[somebuddyX]

I'm going to watch Eurotrip this weekend to remember her. I was actually surprised at her age, being only 4 years younger than me and same age as my little sister. When she played Dawn she looked so much younger!

 

[Rowdy Roddy McDowall]

Holy Crap. Just the other day I was thinking about Buffy and Dawn. First Orci dies at 51 and now Trachtenberg dies at 39? What is going on?

Random merging of art and life. In 1980 at school I remembered Steve McQueen saying ''I'm burning up!'' from THE TOWERING INFERNO. Six hours later that Friday the TV stations reported his heart attack.

One of the very first Hollywood casualties was accidentally steamrolled before their third birthday, if my moth-eared statistical book is right. I'll leave it there, except to say it was almost beyond belief.

 

[Anwar]

Holy Crap. Just the other day I was thinking about Buffy and Dawn. First Orci dies at 51 and now Trachtenberg dies at 39? What is going on?

RIP and Dawn was unfairly hated.

You can now count Gene Hackman and his wife and dog in that too.

 

[tomalak301]

You can now count Gene Hackman and his wife and dog in that too.

They say it always comes in threes, but now this is 4 (or 5 if you include the dog) shocking deaths in 3 days. Just woke up to that news.

 

[Turtletrekker]

This whole thing has left me stunned, shocked and numb. But this? This brought the tears.

Sarah Michelle Gellar Says She Will 'Live for' Michelle Trachtenberg in Touching Tribute to 'Buffy' Costar: 'I Will Always Love You'

Sarah Michelle Gellar paid tribute to the late Michelle Trachtenberg, who was found dead at age 39 on Feb. 26, and reflected on their time playing sisters on 'Buffy'

people.com

 

[DigificWriter]

^ I was literally coming back here to talk about SMG's tribute. Her repurposing dialogue from what is quite possibly the best onscreen representation of unconditional love ever is the thing that broke me.

 

[tomalak301]

This whole thing has left me stunned, shocked and numb. But this? This brought the tears.

Sarah Michelle Gellar Says She Will 'Live for' Michelle Trachtenberg in Touching Tribute to 'Buffy' Costar: 'I Will Always Love You'

Sarah Michelle Gellar paid tribute to the late Michelle Trachtenberg, who was found dead at age 39 on Feb. 26, and reflected on their time playing sisters on 'Buffy'

people.com

Yeah, I felt the same way. I watched that scene last night and then to have SMG use it to talk about Michelle made me cry. Perfect Statement.

 

[Set Harth]

I had no idea she was with Iceman. ( Not that Iceman. )

 

[oktay]

Michelle Trachtenberg’s Cause of Death to Remain Undetermined as Family Declines Autopsy

'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' alum Michelle Trachtenberg's cause of death will remain undetermined.

tvline.com

His family did not request an autopsy for religious reasons, and the cause of death remains unknown. The police do not think there is any possibility of a reverse situation.

I don't want to be punished for writing this, but doesn't a person want to know why their child died? This made me suspicious. Are they trying to cover up the cause of death? I want to ask because I don't know anything. Can religious families in the US make such a request when someone dies?

 

[DarrenTR1970]

Michelle Trachtenberg’s Cause of Death to Remain Undetermined as Family Declines Autopsy

'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' alum Michelle Trachtenberg's cause of death will remain undetermined.

tvline.com

His family did not request an autopsy for religious reasons, and the cause of death remains unknown. The police do not think there is any possibility of a reverse situation.

I don't want to be punished for writing this, but doesn't a person want to know why their child died? This made me suspicious. Are they trying to cover up the cause of death? I want to ask because I don't know anything. Can religious families in the US make such a request

When my father died, he requested that he be cremated, and that was done almost immediately after his passing.
He died of cancer. What more do I or my brother or his wife need to know?
When my stepsister passed away last year, the doctors asked Wink if they could perform an autopsy to determine cause of death because it was so sudden, Wink agreed.
Her death was due in part to an allergic reaction to anti-inflammatory arthritis medication she was taking.
In this instance, it's good to know, because doctors can now know what to look for in patients when prescribing the medication.
You make it sound as though ther is some conspiracy/cover up involved, when it's up to the immediate family members or the patient themselves as to whether or not they want an autopsy.
In this case, the mother chose not to have an autopsy performed, maybe because she was overcome by grief, maybe because of religious reasons.

 

[Ovation]

Michelle Trachtenberg’s Cause of Death to Remain Undetermined as Family Declines Autopsy

'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' alum Michelle Trachtenberg's cause of death will remain undetermined.

tvline.com

His family did not request an autopsy for religious reasons, and the cause of death remains unknown. The police do not think there is any possibility of a reverse situation.

I don't want to be punished for writing this, but doesn't a person want to know why their child died? This made me suspicious. Are they trying to cover up the cause of death? I want to ask because I don't know anything. Can religious families in the US make such a request when someone dies?

Autopsies are generally not required unless there is evidence of foul play or some considerably unusual circumstances. Coverup is not the default assumption to be drawn here.

 

[oktay]

Autopsies are generally not required unless there is evidence of foul play or some considerably unusual circumstances. Coverup is not the default assumption to be drawn here.

I know but it seemed suspicious that after she died her family didn't want to find out why she died after they found her. But if you look at her body from a distance and it's more or less obvious why she died, and if they know the girls are sick, they can more or less guess why she died. I guess I watch too many detective and American murder mystery movies.

 

[Samurai8472]

Its so crazy that a 39 year old actress dies and it's pretty much a closed case yet a 95 year old actor dies and it's pure mystery and suspicion. Life is twisted like that sometimes.