Remembering Michelle Trachtenberg
On February 26th at 8am Michelle Trachtenberg's mother found her daughter unresponsive in her New York City apartment. The beautiful and talented actress had passed away at the young age of 39. Let's remember and honor her by looking back at her best performances on television and in the movies.
Harriet: "Harriet the Spy" (1996)
There is no place to start other than where Trachtenberg started—with her major movie debut as the titular Harriet in 1996's Harriet the Spy. The film wasn't a huge hit, but it did—and still does—have its fans and it put Trachtenberg on the map.
Harriet the Spy (1996), Paramount Pictures
Started Young
Harriet might be the role that put her name on the tips of most people's tongues, but it certainly wasn't her first time in front of a camera. In fact Michelle had been in the business since she was 3-years-old.
TV Commercials
As a 3 year old Trachtenberg appeared in a television commercial for Wisk detergent. But that was just the beginning—as Michelle would end up with over 100 commercials on her resume by the time it was all said and done.
Dinah Driscoll: "Law & Order"
At just 6 years old Trachtenberg made the move from commercials to scripted television...kind of. The truth is she had an uncredited appearance in the second season episode of Law & Order titled, God Bless the Child.—in which she played the child of a couple whose religious beliefs forbids medical treatment for her.
It was a start—and later in her career she would come back to the L&O franchise in a credited performance...
Lisa Willow Tyler: "Law & Order: Criminal Intent"
In the 121st episode of the L&O spin-off, Trachtenberg played a teenage blogger nicknamed WeepingWillow17 who is kidnapped while filming one of her videos—or is it all a big hoax?
Nona F. Mecklenberg: "The Adventures of Pete & Pete"
That first L&O appearance might've been her first non-commercials role, but her first credited gig was The Adventures of Pete & Pete on Nickelodeon.
The Adventures of Pete and Pete (1993–1996), Nickelodeon
Jenny: "Euro Trip" (2004)
Jenny downing absinthe and making out with her twin brother is an unforgettable moment of this teen comedy. It might not sound funny—but Trachtenberg made it funny.
Wendy: "Mysterious Skin" (2004)
Gregg Araki's dark coming-of-age drama has a few notable performances in it—including that of the film's star Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Trachtenberg is also memorable as Levitt's best friend in the movie.
Mysterious Skin (2004), TLA Releasing
Casey Carlyle: "Ice Princess" (2005)
The title might sound a little cold, but Trachtenberg is anything but—in this rom com about a teen girl who dreams of being a figure skater.
Ice Princess (2005), Walt Disney Pictures
Lily Benton Montgomery: "All My Children"
When Soap Opera fans went to see Harriet The Spy, there were no doubt a number of them who thought to themselves, "Hey, that's Lily Montgomery." Because before she was Harriet, Trachtenberg was the first actress to play Lily Benton Montgomery on All My Children (other actresses took over the role after her).
Celeste: "Six Feet Under"
Trachtenberg had a 4-episode arc on the 4th season of Six Feet Under as teen popstar Celeste who hires Keith to be her bodyguard, sleeps with him and then fires him.
Six Feet Under (2001–2005), HBO
Melissa Kitt: "Black Christmas" (2006)
Trachtenberg played sorority sister Melissa Kitt in this holiday slasher film—the second movie in the Black Christmas series.
Black Christmas (2006), 20th Century Studios
Maggie O'Donnell: "17 Again" (2009)
Trachtenberg played Matthew Perry/Zac Effron's teenage daughter in this fun teen fantasy film that sees a 37-year-old Perry transformed back into his 17-year-old self.
Georgina Sparks: "Gossip Girl"
Trachtenberg's cruel and manipulative young socialite was loved and hated by fans. But no matter how you felt about Georgina, you couldn't forget or ignore her.
Gossip Girl (2007–2012), The CW
Georgina Sparks: "Gossip Girl"
Originally offer to Mischa Barton, Trachtenberg took on the Georgina role of "an adolescent Cruella" with gusto and glee. Even calling it "the best character I have ever played". she would appear in 28 episodes throughout the show's 6-season run
Gossip Girl (2007–2012), The CW
Georgina Sparks: "Gossip Girl"
Trachtenberg came back to the role for the second season of the similarly-titled HBO Max sequel series. It would end up being her final role.
Gossip Girl (2007–2012), The CW
Emma Karlin: "Weeds"
Emma Karlin was Silas' love interest and the undercover owner of Pouncy House (the Botwin family's competition). Trachtenberg had a memorable 6-episode run as the aforementioned Emma—until her Pouncy House affiliations were revealed to the Botwins.
Chloe Payne: "Mercy"
Mercy was a short-lived medical drama that aired on NBC for one season in 2009 and starred an ensemble cast that included Taylor Schilling and Michelle Trachtenberg. Trachtenberg was great as the recent nursing graduate thrown head first into the real world of nursing at a hospital.
Michael Williams from New York, United States on Wikimedia
Ava Monroe: "Cop Out" (2010)
Trachtenberg is Bruce Willis' daughter Ava in the 2010 Kevin Smith cop comedy. Her expensive wedding is the catalyst for the story as Willis goes to sell a prized baseball card in order to try to pay for the ceremony.
Penny Brown: "Inspector Gadget" (1999)
Inspector Gadget's brilliant and very helpful niece—that was Trachtenberg in this 1999 live-action take on the iconic cartoon that was a part of many childhoods.
Inspector Gadget (1999), Walt Disney Pictures
Ashley: "Take Me Home Tonight" (2011)
Topher Grace and Anna Faris are the stars of this set-in-the-80s sitcom. But Trachtenberg makes her short presence felt as Ashley—a goth girl at a party who hooks up with Dan Fogler.
Take Me Home Tonight (2011), Universal Pictures
Alice/Veronica: "The Scribbler" (2014)
Trachtenberg plays a duo-personality role in this 2014 American science fiction thriller film. It ended up going straight to DVD, but it was her final film role. Well, technically her second-to-last film role if you consider her voice work in the 2024 documentary Spyral.
The Scribbler (2014), XLrator Media
Herself: "This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race" (Fall Out Boy)
Trachtenberg made a cameo appearance as herself, along with Seth Green and other celebs in a funeral scene for Fall Out Boy's music video for their 2007 track, This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race.
This Ain't A Scene It's An Arms Race (2007), Fall Out Boy
Maggie Parker: "Meego"
This sci-fi sitcom starring Bronson Pinchot as an alien pretending to be a human, only ran for 6 episodes on CBS. But that was enough for Trachtenberg to win a Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a TV Comedy Series – Supporting Young Actress.
Diane Turner: "Criminal Minds"
In Criminal Minds' 8th season Trachtenberg played Beth Riesgraf's stalker in an episode titled Zugzwang.
Hostess: "Truth or Scare"
If you were watching Discovery Kids back in the early 2000s then you probably saw Trachtenberg in her gig as hostess/narrator of the Truth or Scare series that aired as part of the network's Scary Saturday Night Sleepover lineup. She did that from 2001 to 2003, but it was the role she landed in 2000 that she will always be most remembered for...
Truth or Scare (2001–2003), Discovery Kids
Dawn Summers: "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"
She might not have appeared until the first episode of the 5th season, but Trachtenberg—as Buffy's younger sister Dawn—made an everlasting impression on Buffy fans everywhere. At first probably because of how the character was brought into the series.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2003), 20th Century Fox
Dawn Summers: "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"
Her introduction onto the show was part of a big retcon that had everyone in the show act like Dawn had always been there—even though we, the audience, knew that wasn't the case. However, most viewers who were at first uncertain about her character were certainly drawn into her story and happy to go along with the canonical tweaking in the end.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2003), 20th Century Fox
Dawn Summers: "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"
In the end Trachtenberg appeared as Dawn Summers in 66 episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer—every episode following her season 5 debut, right up until the final battle with the Ubervamps in the series finale.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2003), 20th Century Fox
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