Actress Michelle Trachtenberg’s Cause of Death Revealed

Almost two months on from the death of actress Michelle Trachtenberg, the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner has revealed the cause of her passing.

According to People, a spokesperson from the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed on Wednesday (April 16) that the actress’s passing was ruled as natural, resulting from complications of diabetes mellitus.

“The amended determination was made following review of toxicology testing results,” the spokesperson said, noting that a “toxicology testing can be done without autopsy.”

Trachtenberg died on Feb. 26 at the age of 39, with New York City emergency services responding to an emergency call where they discovered the actress “unconscious and unresponsive.”

Though her death was not treated as suspicious, Trachtenberg’s family declined an autopsy on grounds related to their Jewish faith, with her death therefore expected to be officially ruled as “undetermined.” However, the review of the toxicology results has ultimately provided a form of closure for those close to the actress.

A New York native, Trachtenberg began acting as a child, receiving her breakthrough role by starring in the film Harriet the Spy in 1996, released when she was just 10. By then, she had also made multiple appearances on ABC’s All My Children — working with Sarah Michelle Gellar. That connection led to Trachtenberg joining Gellar on Buffy the Vampire Slayer from 2000 through its 2003 finale.

In 2001, the series’ sixth season featured one of its most innovative and revered episodes, the musical Once More, with Feeling. While most of the show’s stars had their singing talents showcased prominently, Trachtenberg – a trained ballet dancer – requested her dancing skills be the main focus for her appearance. Her vocal talents weren’t entirely absent, however, opening the episode’s coda, “Where Do We Go From Here?,” singing the opening title line a cappella.

The 23-song Once More, with Feeling soundtrack was subsequently released (on Mutant Enemy/Twentieth Century Fox/Rounder Records). Mirroring the show’s trademark witty dialog (one lyric features singing-averse Alyson Hannigan admitting, “I think this line’s mostly filler”), the set slayed Billboard’s charts, most notably debuting at its No. 3 best on the Soundtracks chart — a year after the episode aired. It also hit the Billboard 200 and Independent Albums charts.

To date, the album has drawn more than 23 million streams in the U.S., according to Luminate.

Trachtenberg’s presence in the world of music also extended beyond the world of Buffy, with the actress also appearing in music videos for acts such as Trapt and Ringside, and Fall Out Boy’s “This Ain’t a Scene, It’s an Arms Race,” which peaked at No. 2 on the Hot 100.