They’ll always be the Summers sisters.
Sarah Michelle Gellar and Michelle Trachtenberg became close friends while playing Buffy and Dawn Summers, respectively, on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” — a tight bond that lasted until Trachtenberg’s tragic death at age 39.
Trachtenberg was found dead in NYC on Feb. 26, 2025, The Post exclusively confirmed.
Police sources told The Post that the late actress was found by her mother at around 8 a.m. Wednesday at a luxury apartment complex in Manhattan’s Central Park South neighborhood.
She recently underwent a liver transplant, according to the sources. Her death is not being investigated as suspicious.
Trachtenberg starred on “Buffy” from 2000 to 2003, and continued her friendship with Gellar, 47, after the show ended.
In 2021, Gellar supported “Buffy” co-star Charisma Carpenter’s misconduct allegations against creator Joss Whedon. Trachtenberg made her own claims against Whedon, 60, and thanked Gellar for standing by his accusers.
Just three weeks before Trachtenberg’s death, Gellar confirmed she was involved in making a “Buffy” sequel series. It’s unclear if Trachtenberg was going to be apart of the project.
The Post has reached out to Gellar’s rep for comment on Trachtenberg’s death.
While Trachtenberg and Gellar’s tight bond formed on the set of “Buffy,” they actually met years earlier working on another show.
Keep reading to revisit Sarah Michelle Gellar and Michelle Trachtenberg’s friendship.
1994: Sarah Michelle Gellar and Michelle Trachtenberg meet on ‘All My Children’
For two years in the 1990s, the actresses both starred on the soap opera “All My Children.”
Gellar played Kendall Hart from 1993 to 1995, while Trachtenberg played Lily Benton Montgomery from 1994 to 1996.
Trachtenberg confirmed that, because she already knew Gellar, she was “a huge fan” of “Buffy” before she joined the show in 2000.
“I’m a walking encyclopedia of ‘Buffy,’” Trachtenberg told Entertainment Weekly in 2000. “I watched the show from day 1 because I worked with Sarah on ‘All My Children.’”
2000: Michelle Trachtenberg joins “Buffy”
Trachtenberg’s Dawn Summers was introduced on “Buffy” during Season 5. She appeared in every single episode over the next three seasons until the show ended in 2003.
Gellar played the protagonist in all seven seasons of the supernatural series. The cast also included Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, Anthony Stewart Head, James Marsters, David Boreanaz and Seth Green.
2001: Michelle Trachtenberg gives Sarah Michelle Gellar an award at the Teen Choice Awards
At the 2001 Teen Choice Awards, Trachtenberg presented Gellar with the Extraordinary Achievement Award. Gellar was honored for being a good role model and for her charity work, specifically with Habitat for Humanity.
Sept. 2014: Sarah Michelle Gellar and Michelle Trachtenberg reunite at an ‘Annie’ screening
Over 10 years after “Buffy” ended, Trachtenberg and Gellar reunited at a private screening for the film “Annie” in September 2014.
Gellar and her husband, Freddie Prinze Jr., hosted the event for their older daughter, Charlotte, and invited Trachtenberg and Green, who played Oz, on the show.
Oct. 2015: Sarah Michelle Gellar wishes Michelle Trachtenberg a happy birthday
Gellar posted a birthday tribute to Trachtenberg on the latter star’s 30th birthday on October 11, 2015.
“How is it possible that you are #30 @michelletrachtenberg I met you as a little girl on #allmychildren and have continued to watch you grow,” Gellar wrote on Instagram, alongside a collage of photos of the pair.
“You may be taller than me now, but you will always be my little sister. You have the #key to my heart #btvs #gossipgirl #michelletrachtenberg #happybirthday,” the “Cruel Intentions” star added.
Feb. 2021: Michelle Trachtenberg and Sarah Michelle Gellar speak out against Joss Whedon
Trachtenberg and Gellar acted like sisters when they took a stand against Whedon in February 2021.
Carpenter was the first to speak out against the TV creator, with claims of his alleged “toxic” and “hostile” behavior toward her and others on the set.
She said Whedon “abused his power on numerous occasions” and was responsible for “disturbing incidents” that affected her mental health during the making of the show.
Gellar chimed in after Carpenter’s post went viral, writing: “While I am proud to have my name associated with Buffy Summers, I don’t want to be forever associated with the name Joss Whedon … I stand with all survivors of abuse and am proud of them for speaking out.”
“I stand with all survivors of abuse and am proud of them for speaking out,” Gellar added.
Trachtenberg came forward against Whedon after Gellar’s post and thanked her co-star for her statement.
“Thank you @sarahmgellar for saying this. I am brave enough now as a 35 year old woman … To repost this. Because. This must. Be known. As a teenager. With his not appropriate behavior … very. Not. Appropriate,” said Trachtenberg.
“What he did was very bad. But we win. By surviving!” she added.
Trachtenberg also alleged that Whedon was physically abusive during filming and that there was a “rule” in place prohibiting him from being alone in a room with her on set.
Whedon later denied the allegations in an interview with New York Magazine.
Oct. 2021: Michelle Trachtenberg says she just texted Sarah Michelle Gellar
Later in 2021, Trachtenberg was asked in an interview with Entertainment Tonight what she’d change about her time on “Buffy.”
“I wish I stole more things from the magic shop. Actually, I was texting with Sarah the other day,” Trachtenberg shared. “And I was like, ‘Oh, man. I should have taken a whole bunch of stuff.’ She was like, ‘You don’t leave your house.’ Which is arguably accurate via the COVID.”
That same month, Trachtenberg said in an interview with Access Hollywood about “Buffy,” “I have not heard about a reboot, but I hope that it honors what the fans love.”
April 2023: Michelle Trachtenberg wishes Sarah Michelle Gellar a happy birthday
Trachtenberg celebrated Gellar’s 46th birthday in April 2023 with a sweet Instagram tribute.
“Wishing the always fabulous and bad ass @sarahmgellar a very Happy Birthday. Take the day off sis. No Vampire slaying for you today! 🧛🏻♂️🩸🗝🎉 #birthday #sister #buffythevampireslayer,” Trachtenberg wrote.
January 2025: Michelle Trachtenberg shares her final Instagram post with Sarah Michelle Gellar
On Jan. 22, Trachtenberg shared a throwback photo of the two actresses and wrote, “Slay all day! Always loved this twinning photo of us! #buffy #dawn 🤪 #sister #womancrushwednesday @sarahmgellar 💙💙💋.”
2025: Sarah Michelle Gellar addresses the ‘Buffy’ sequel series
On Feb. 3, news broke that a “Buffy” sequel series featuring Gellar in a recurring role was in the works at Hulu.
Gellar broke her silence on the reports with a lengthy Instagram statement, where she confirmed plans for the show were underway, but that the series wasn’t official yet.
“I have always listened to the fans and heard your desire to revisit ‘Buffy’ and her world, but it was not something I could do unless I was sure we would get it right. This has been a long process, and it’s not over yet. I promise you, we will only make this show if we know we can do it right. And I will tell you that we are on the path there,” she said.
“Thank you to all the fans who never stopped asking for this. This will be for you,” Gellar added.
