“She was an incredible person and I will always remember the years we spent together fondly,” Shawn Ashmore wrote.
The official cause of Michelle Trachtenberg’s death is yet to be confirmed. (Photo Credit: Instagram)
Shawn Ashmore remembered his late ex-girlfriend, Michelle Trachtenberg. Following the heartbreaking news of her passing at just 39, the 45-year-old X-Men star took to Instagram to pay tribute. Reflecting on their time together from 2004 to 2006, he shared a nostalgic throwback photo, writing, “Incredibly sad to hear about Michelle’s passing. She was an incredible person and I will always remember the years we spent together fondly.”
Sharing a glimpse into their relationship, he added, “She was loving, quirky and would never pass up a Law & Order: SVU marathon. My condolences to her mother Lana and sister Irene! This is an incredible loss!”
Take a look at his post here:
Trachtenberg herself had once spoken about how their romance began. In a 2005 interview with Black Film, she recalled their first meeting.
“Well, I put out an ad in the classifieds: Wanted: superhero. I’m a damsel in distress,” she joked. “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,” Trachtenberg had added.
Trachtenberg proudly admitted that she took the lead, adding, “I take full credit and actually, we’ve been together a year.”
Tragically, the NYPD confirmed her passing on Wednesday, February 26. According to their statement to People, officers responded to a 911 call and discovered Trachtenberg “unconscious and unresponsive” in her Manhattan apartment around 8 a.m. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
“Criminality is not suspected. The Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death. The investigation remains ongoing,” authorities reportedly stated. Though her official cause of death has yet to be confirmed, police sources told ABC News that the actress had recently undergone a liver transplant and may have been suffering from related complications.
Michelle Trachtenberg leaves behind a legacy in the entertainment industry with iconic roles such as Georgina Sparks in Gossip Girl and Dawn Summers in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Her career had begun early, featuring in beloved shows like Nickelodeon’s The Adventures of Pete & Pete and the long-running soap All My Children.
