Sarah Michelle Gellar pays emotional tribute to Michelle Trachtenberg on first anniversary of her shock death

Sarah Michelle Gellar paid a heartfelt tribute to Michelle Trachtenberg on the first anniversary of her former co-star's tragic death, at age 39, with a touching message.

The Buffy the Vampire Slayer star, 48, took to Instagram to reflect on her decades-long bond with Trachtenberg, who died on February 26, 2025.

'I'm not sure how it's been a year,' Gellar began. '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.'

'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,' Gellar continued. 'You may not have been with us long enough, but we will make sure everyone remembers.'

The actress also shared a series of emotional and nostalgic throwback photos, including smiling snapshots of the pair at events and on red carpets over the years. 

In one photo, the two beamed side-by-side as young stars; in another, they posed against a pink backdrop, arms wrapped around each other.

Gellar and Trachtenberg famously portrayed sisters Buffy Summers and Dawn Summers on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which aired from 1997 to 2003. 

Following Trachtenberg's death last year, Gellar paid tribute by quoting a poignant line from the series.

'Michelle, listen to me. Listen. I love you. I will always love you. The hardest thing in this world, is to live in it. I will be brave. I will live… for you,' she wrote, at the time.

Fans and fellow actors flooded the comments of her latest post with messages of support. 

'Forever our Dawnie,' one wrote while others described the tribute as 'beautiful' and said Trachtenberg was 'gone way too soon.'

Trachtenberg's cause of death was revealed in April 2025. 

According to a statement from the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner, she died due to complications from diabetes mellitus. 

Officials cited lab results in declaring their findings to the Daily Mail and classified the death as natural. It was not immediately clear whether she had type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

In the months prior to her passing, Trachtenberg had undergone a liver transplant.

Authorities with the New York Police Department previously told the Daily Mail that officers responded to a 911 call at approximately 8:01 a.m. on February 26, 2025, to 1 Columbus Place in Manhattan's Hell's Kitchen neighborhood.

'Upon arrival, officers observed a 39-year-old female unconscious and unresponsive. EMS responded to the location and pronounced the victim deceased,' police said in a statement at the time. 'Criminality is not suspected. The Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death.'

Her relatives had cited religious reasons for not wanting the results of her autopsy made public.

At the time of her death, Trachtenberg had been in a relationship with Jay Cohen, a partner at The Gersh Agency focused on film and distribution. 

The couple had been dating since 2020 and frequently shared affectionate messages on social media. 

Following her passing, Cohen told the Daily Mail that 'the family will not be commenting on the tragedy.'

Trachtenberg began her career as a child performer and went on to become a household name thanks to roles on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Gossip Girl. 

On the latter, she portrayed scheming socialite Georgina Sparks opposite Blake Lively's Serena van der Woodsen from 2007 to 2012.