Sarah Michelle Gellar remembers Michelle Trachtenberg on anniversary of her death: ‘I’m not sure how it’s been a year’

Neia BalaoThu, February 26, 2026 at 8:47 PM UTC

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It's been one year since Michelle Trachtenberg’s death, and Sarah Michelle Gellar is honoring her onscreen sister.

Trachtenberg died at 39 on Feb. 27, 2025, from complications related to diabetes. She portrayed Gellar’s younger sister, Dawn Summers, on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which ran for seven seasons from 1997 to 2003. Trachtenberg joined the show during its fifth season in 2000 and remained until its series finale.

“I’m not sure how it’s been a year,” Gellar wrote in an Instagram post Thursday, on the anniversary of Trachtenberg’s death. “I’m one of the lucky ones who has over 30 years of memories with you. From our first day on set together, to less than a year later, when you were already taller than me.”

Gellar recalled first working with Trachtenberg on All My Children and watching her “become a star” with her work on Harriet The Spy.

“You were great to my kids,” Gellar wrote. “Countless kids bdays you attended even though I’m sure you had somewhere cooler to be.”

She added: “But most of all, when I think of you, that smile that took up your entire face and brought so much joy to others is what comes to mind. You may not have been with us long enough, but we will make sure everyone remembers.”

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This isn’t the first time the Cruel Intentions star has paid tribute to Trachtenberg. Upon learning that the actress had died, Gellar posted a photo of them on Buffy, alongside a quote from the Season 5 finale. Last October, Gellar also posted a message for Trachtenberg on what would’ve been her 40th birthday.

“When you turned 16, it was hard not to still see you as the little girl I met on All My Children,” Gellar wrote on Instagram. “When you turned 21, I had to teach myself to not see you as the little sister anymore. I can’t imagine what 40 would have been like. This I know… it would be filled with love.”

Michelle Trachtenberg and Sarah Michelle Gellar at the 2001 Teen Choice Awards. (RMP/HK via Reuters)

While she’s deeply beloved by Buffy fans, Trachtenberg’s career extended well beyond the beloved supernatural series. In addition to appearing in films like Eurotrip and 17 Again, Trachtenberg left a lasting impression as the titular, astute child detective in Harriet the Spy. She also widely celebrated for her portrayal of Georgina Sparks, a villainous Upper West Side socialite on Gossip Girl.

“[Georgina] was actually my favorite character I’ve played because she’s such an evil b-i-t-c-h, that it was fun,” Trachtenberg told Entertainment Tonightin 2021.

Trachtenberg also played Casey Carlyle, a studious teen who chooses to pursue her dream of becoming a figure skater, in 2005’s Ice Princess. News of Trachtenberg’s death sent ripples through the figure skating community on TikTok. Several figure skaters on the video-sharing platform credit Trachtenberg’s performance in Ice Princess for inspiring them to pursue a career in the sport.

One year after her death, fans have taken to social media to celebrate Trachtenberg’s legacy. Photos throughout Trachtenberg’s career are being shared on X, while TikTok users are sharing fan edits they’ve created of the late actress.

“1 year ago today we lost the beautiful and talented Michelle Trachtenberg, such a huge loss! She will always be remembered! RIP,” one fan wrote on X, while another added, “I’ve been seeing it all over my timeline today that it’s already been 1 year since Michelle Trachtenberg passed away. I’m still shocked she’s gone. My 1st rewatch of ‘Buffy’ Season 5 since then hit different. She was far too young.”

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”