Michelle Trachtenberg was ‘struggling’ and ‘really sick’ prior to her shock death at 39, according to latest reports.
The Gossip Girl star was found dead by her mother on Wednesday morning in her New York City apartment near Columbus Circle.
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The actress ‘told friends she was struggling’ and was ‘really down emotionally’ in the year prior to her death, a source told People.
‘She was really, really sick and open with those in her circle about how much she was struggling,’ the insider added, stating she looked ‘pale, gaunt’ and ‘very thin.’
Meanwhile a restaurant worker revealed to DailyMail.com that Trachtenberg was so sick during her final outing that she could barely walk down a flight of restaurant stairs.
Trachtenberg died of natural causes and may have suffered complications following a liver transplant, police sources told ABC News.
Michelle Trachtenberg was ‘struggling’ and ‘really sick’ prior to her shock death at 39, according to latest reports; Seen in an Instagram photo on January 26
Police told DailyMail.com that there is no foul play suspected in her death. Sources told TMZ that the actress had been battling alcohol issues.
The star’s gaunt appearance stunned staff at Sartiano’s restaurant in SoHo, New York.
It was Thursday February 20th, less than a week before the tragic Gossip Girl star was found dead by her mother in her Manhattan apartment.
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‘She looked really unwell, just like very sickly,’ a worker said on Wednesday, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
‘She was thin, like tiny, she couldn’t walk down the stairs. She was not in a great mood, it wasn’t the best impression.’
‘It’s spooky because she was in here just last week on Thursday night,’ the worker added.
‘We only just found out about (her death) a few hours ago and it’s really sad. She was just with one other person, a woman who was really nice.’
Restaurant owner Scott Sartiano issued a moving tribute to the star on Wednesday evening, less than a week after she was last seen at the downtown hotspot with one other woman.
The actress ‘told friends she was struggling’ and was ‘really down emotionally’ in the year prior to her death, a source told People; pictured November 2, 2023 in Los Angeles
‘She was really, really sick and open with those in her circle about how much she was struggling,’ the insider added, stating she looked ‘pale, gaunt’ and ‘very thin’; pictured February 9, 2024
Meanwhile a restaurant worker revealed to DailyMail.com that Trachtenberg was so sick during her final outing that she could barely walk down a flight of restaurant stairs; seen February 12
‘Many years of happy memories,’ Sartiano wrote alongside a picture of he and Trachtenberg together.
‘Rest in Peace Michelle.’ Sartiano added a broken heart emoji alongside the photo and caption.
While police are yet to confirm her cause of death, sources say Trachtenberg died of natural causes.
She recently underwent a live transplant after battling alcohol issues, friends of the star told TMZ.
Her mother Lana discovered her body in her $7,500-a-month apartment in Columbus Circle on Wednesday at 8am.
NYPD officials said an autopsy would be performed.
A spokesperson said: ‘On Wednesday, February 26, 2025, at approximately 0801 hours, police responded to a 911 call of an aided individual at 1 Columbus Place, within the confines of the Midtown North Precinct,’ police said in a statement.
‘Upon arrival, officers observed a 39-year-old female unconscious and unresponsive. EMS responded to the location and pronounced the victim deceased.
In January 2024, she slammed speculation that she was in poor health after some of her followers expressed worry over her seemingly ‘thinning hair’ and ‘yellow eyes’
She also reminded the woman that she was 38 not 14 anymore, before inquiring in what way she looked unwell
The Gossip Girl star was found dead by her mother on Wednesday morning in her New York City apartment. Trachtenberg died of natural causes and may have suffered complications following a liver transplant; seen in 2015
Police told DailyMail.com that there is no foul play suspected in her death. Sources told TMZ that the actress had been battling alcohol issues; seen in 2010
