(NEXSTAR) – Sarah Michelle Gellar, star of the TV series “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” shared a sweet message to the late star Michelle Trachtenberg on her 40th birthday.
In the post, shared on October 11, Gellar recalled her relationship with her on-screen sister during their time on “Buffy,” after they appeared on the same series with child actors years earlier.
“When you turned 16, it was hard not to see you as the little girl I met on All My Children,” Gellar wrote. Instagram post. “When I turned 21, I had to teach myself not to see you as a little sister anymore. I can’t imagine what 40 would have been like. This is what I know…it will be full of love. Happy Birthday@michelletrachtenberg“.
A video accompanying the message contained a clip from the movie “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” showing Gellar and Trachtenberg’s characters embracing.
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Actresses Michelle Trachtenberg and Sarah Michelle Gellar pictured at the William S. The 25th annual TV Show took place on March 20, 2008, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John Kobaloff/FilmMagic) -
Michelle Trachtenberg, a cast member of “Killing Kennedy,” is photographed at the film’s premiere at the Saban Theater on Monday, November 4, 2013, in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) -
Michelle Trachtenberg appears at The Art of Elysium’s ninth annual Heaven Gala in Culver City, California, on January 9, 2016. (Photo by Rich Fury/Invision/AP, File)
Trachenberg died at the age of 39 on February 26, 2025, after being found unresponsive in her Manhattan apartment, the Nexstar Apartment. WPIX I mentioned. Her cause of death was later determined to be complications from diabetes.
Trachtenberg also underwent a liver transplant months before her death. ABC News reported at the time.
Trachtenberg was best known as a child actress for roles in “The Adventures of Pete & Pete,” “Harriet the Spy,” and “Inspector Gadget,” and later appeared in television shows and films including “EuroTrip,” “Gossip Girl,” and the final three seasons of “Buffy”.
As Gellar mentioned in her post, one of Trachtenberg’s first TV roles was on All My Children, in which she appeared on the show. Several times in 1994.
Gellar, after Trachtenberg’s death in February, reacted to the actress’ death Posted on InstagramFeaturing many photographs of her and Trachtenberg on and off the set.
“Michelle, listen to me. Listen. I love you. I will always love you. The hardest thing in this world is living in it. I will be brave. I will live… for you,” Gellar wrote, paraphrasing lines of dialogue from Buffy.