Fans and friends remember actress Michelle Trachtenberg who died at 39 years old

Actress Michelle Trachtenberg, known for her roles in “Harriet the Spy,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Gossip Girl,” has died at the age of 39. New York City police say Trachtenberg was found unresponsive in an apartment on Wednesday.

Michelle Trachtenberg died at the age of 39 in February 2025. Before her death, Michelle was in a long-term relationship with her talent agent, Jay Cohen, but who else does her dating history include and was she ever married?

Was Michelle Trachtenberg Married?

Michelle was not married before her death, but her relationship with Jay began in 2020. She was active on social media and many of her posts on Instagram included the Bride Wars producer. Michelle shared a photo of herself and Jay on Valentine’s Day, days before she died.

“Happy Valentine’s Day to the man who sits still long enough for me to paint his face,” the Buffy the Vampire Slayer alum wrote alongside the picture that featured Jay with his face painted as Frankenstein during a previous Halloween celebration.

Multiple outlets reported that Michelle had undergone liver transplant surgery before her death. Jay, himself, was also a transplant patient and had received a kidney transplant in 1999.

“Wow, it’s that time of year again! Today July 9th is my 25th anniversary of my kidney transplant that saved my life,” Jay wrote in a 2024 Instagram post.

He added that he and his brothers were all born with the “same disease,” although he didn’t specify the type of disease. Between himself and his two brothers, they had received a total of five kidney transplants throughout the years.

Who Has Michelle Trachtenberg Dated?

Aside from Jay, Michelle dated several famous men in Hollywood. In 2004, she began dating X-Men: Days of Future Past star Shawn Ashmore after meeting at an Oscars party.

When asked how her relationship with Shawn came about during an interview with Black Film in 2005, Michelle joked, “Well, I put out an ad in the classifieds: Wanted, superhero. I’m a damsel in distress.”

She continued, “No, we just met, which is funny, knowing Shawn, he hates anything publicity. He’s so not into that world.

We met at an Oscar party and he was just like Mr. Grumpy unhappy to be out in public and I totally approached him. I was the forward one, I take full credit and actually, we’ve been together a year.”

Was Michelle Trachtenberg Married? Her Dating and Relationship History

Shawn and Michelle eventually split in 2006, and that same year she briefly dated Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz. The following year, the EuroTrip actress was linked to Jason Lewis, who fans likely know from his role as Smith in S*x and the City.

Over the next few years, Michelle dated Joshua Radin for a bit in 2008 and Jason Segal in 2009. By 2010, she was rumored to be dating musician and actor Josh Groban after they were seen dining together.

She later gushed about Josh via X when he appeared on an episode of Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen in 2014 and called the “You Raise Me Up” artist “Gone with the Wind cool.”

The former Gossip Girl star was also rumored to have been dating Kid Cudi in 2014 when the two were spotted leaving Chateau Marmont, according to Perez Hilton.

Michelle Trachtenberg’s Death Shocked Hollywood

Michelle’s death came as a huge shock when news broke that she was found dead in her New York City apartment on February 26, 2025. Her death wasn’t being investigated as suspicious. Several of her former costars and friends mourned her passing, including her ex-boyfriend Shawn.

“Incredibly sad to hear about Michelle’s passing,” Shawn wrote via Instagram. “She was an incredible person and I will always remember the years we spent together fondly.

She was loving, quirky and would never pass up a Law and Order SVU marathon:) My condolences to her mother Lana and sister Irene! This is an incredible loss!”