Michelle Trachtenberg’s pals saw heartbreaking warning signals before death as she became recluse in tragic last days

GOSSIP Girl star Michelle Trachtenberg became a recluse as she stayed out of the public eye in the years before her sudden death, friends have said.

Trachtenberg, who was also known for appearing in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, was found dead inside her New York City apartment by her mom on February 26.

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Trachtenberg’s cause of death was ruled “undetermined” after her family refused an autopsy, but it was widely reported she underwent a liver transplant before her death at 39.

Friends recalled she suffered from back trouble and bone problems in the years leading up to her death.

They told US Weekly that whenever they and Trachtenberg spoke, there was “something medically wrong” with the actress.

In one picture taken in February 2020, Trachtenberg was photographed holding a cane at the Cadillac Oscars celebrations in West Hollywood.

The friend noted how Trachtenberg was a “recluse” in the years before her death, shunning the limelight.

“She achieved huge success early on but lost her footing later,” they added.

“I think she gave up on the fame aspect and didn’t want to be part of Hollywood anymore.”

Meanwhile, a source close to the actress, revealed she faced “curveballs” with her health.

“The last time I saw her, something felt off,” they said

“You could sense something was going on.”

They said Trachtenberg looked incredibly frail and had been ill for a while.

Other pals of Trachtenberg noted how they exchanged calls with the actress while she was in the hospital.

British photographer Amanda de Cadanet recalled the moment she FaceTimed Trachtenberg in a social media tribute to the star.

“I will not share the details of our conversations over the last 6 months,” she said.

“But you knew that death was a high possibility,” she originally wrote, but later deleted the last couple of sentences and edited the original caption.

Trachtenberg’s cause of death remains unknown but cops told TMZ her body may have rejected the liver transplant.

They suggested that it could have caused complications.

It has since emerged that Trachtenberg was working on a screenplay before her death, as per People.

The proposed screenplay was titled Toy Monster and inspired by the book written by Jerry Oppenheimer.

Casey Tebo, the film producer and director, described Trachtenberg as an “incredible writer.”

Tebo said he and Trachtenberg’s partner Jay Cohen are working to get the screenplay turned into a movie.

Tributes flooded in after the news that Trachtenberg had died surfaced.

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Sarah Michelle Gellar, who starred alongside Trachtenberg in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, revealed she would always love the late actress.

Trachtenberg played the character Dawn Summers in the hit show – Buffy’s sister.

Blake Lively, who starred alongside Trachtenberg in Gossip Girl, paid tribute to the star’s “electric” personality.

“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 said.

“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.”

Gossip Girl stars Ed Westwick and Taylor Momsen also paid their own respects.

In her tribute, Momsen revealed she knew from the first moment she met Trachtenberg the pair would be friend.

“She was simply awesome,” she said.

“My heart is on the floor.”

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