Michelle Trachtenberg Reportedly Had A Liver Transplant Before Shocking Death

The cause of Michelle Trachtenberg's death remains unknown, but a source has revealed the actress recently had a liver transplant.

Trachtenberg's death was confirmed on Wednesday after her body was found at her home in Upper West Side, New York.

After news of her death made headlines, many of Trachtenberg's former costars, including Sarah Michelle Gellar and Blake Lively, paid glowing tributes to her.

After Trachtenberg's sudden death, many fans wondered what could have led to her passing.

A source told NBC New York that the 39-year-old actress recently received a liver transplant, though it remains unknown if there were complications from the surgery.

Doctors with knowledge about liver diseases and transplants told the outlet that complications like blood clots or infections are expected after a transplant. However, the outcomes are mostly positive for patients, with the five-year survival rate exceeding 75%.

The reason for Trachtenberg's liver transplant is also unknown, though data suggests that alcohol-related liver disease is the most common reason for liver transplants nationwide.

Meanwhile, other reasons for liver transplants include autoimmune conditions, liver cancer, and viral hepatitis.

An autopsy report would have helped to determine Trachtenberg's cause of death, but her family objected to it. This led to her cause of death being ruled as "undetermined."

A representative for the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in New York told Page Six, "Under public health law, families may object to autopsy based on religious belief and provided there is no suspicion of criminality or compelling public health reason to proceed with autopsy, the medical examiner honors the objection."

Due to Trachtenberg's family's objection, there will likely be no further tests or examinations done on her body to determine the cause of her death.

Before the family objected to an autopsy, New York's Chief Medical Examiner's office conducted an external examination of Trachtenberg's body.

Reports revealed that Trachtenberg was found dead in her New York apartment at about 8 a.m. on Wednesday. Her mom discovered her body, with sources noting that the actress went into cardiac arrest.

The New York Police Department reported that the "Gossip Girl" actress was found "unconscious and unresponsive" when paramedics and officers arrived, and they pronounced her dead at the scene.

Despite the shocking nature of Trachtenberg's death, authorities didn't report it as suspicious, though insiders claimed she was battling health issues quietly.

Michelle Trachtenberg's fans had long been worried about her health and expressed it several times when she posted selfies on her Instagram page.

In January 2024, some fans pointed out some worrying features about her appearance after she shared a selfie featuring "Spy Kids" star Alexa PenaVega.

One fan asked, "Michelle, you look sick. Are you ok?" However, Trachtenberg responded, "Explain to me how I look sick. Did you lose a calendar and not realize I'm not 14 [?] I'm 38. How sad for you to leave such a comment."

Afterward, she made another post on Instagram and called out those who were speculating about her health.

She wrote, "I've received several comments recently about my appearance. I have never had plastic surgery. I am happy and healthy. Check yourself, haters."

Many of Michelle Trachtenberg's costars have paid tribute to her, including her "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" costar, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and "Gossip Girl" costar Blake Lively.

Gellar shared pictures of herself and Trachtenberg through the years and captioned it, "Michelle, listen to me. Listen. I love you. I will always love you. The hardest thing in this world is to live in it. I will be brave. I will live... for you."

Meanwhile, Lively broke her social media silence amid her ongoing legal battle with Justin Baldoni to pen a heartfelt tribute to Trachtenberg.

In the post, which she made via her Instagram Stories, Lively shared a picture of herself and Trachtenberg and captioned it, "This is the first day I met Michelle. She was electricity. You knew when she entered a room because the vibration changed."

Lively continued, "Everything she did, she did 200%. She laughed the fullest at someone’s joke, she faced authority head on when she felt something was wrong, she cared deeply about her work, she was proud to be a part of this community and industry as painful as it could be sometimes, she was fiercely loyal to her friends and brave for those she loved, she was big and bold and distinctly herself."

Lively fondly recalled her late co-star’s sweet nature, remembering how she always wore caramel-scented lip gloss to create a pleasant atmosphere for others. She encouraged fans to cherish loved ones, reflecting on life's unpredictability and the loss of a kind, sensitive soul in Michelle, whose legacy will endure.