From Nickelodeon to Black Christmas, Remembering Michelle Trachtenberg’s Best Early Moments in TV and Movies

Michelle Trachtenberg is being remembered for a very special career.

Fans are reeling following the news that the actress, best known for her roles as Georgina Sparks on Gossip Girl and Dawn Summers on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, among others, has died at the age of 39.

A generation grew up with Trachtenberg as a constant on TV and in films. She got her start at just 3 years old in a detergent commercial and later came to star in a number of fun, family films.

As fans mourn her loss, they are looking back at how the actress grew from her early days of child stardom to her most recent roles.

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Clarissa Explains It All

Trachtenberg’s first credited role was opposite Melissa Joan Hart in a 1993 episode of Clarissa Explains It All. She played a little girl Clarissa was babysitting named Ellie. Ellie knew how to put on a performance in front of adults but behind the scenes, she was ready to start all kinds of trouble. Luckily, Clarissa figured out her kryptonite: a crush on Clarissa’s dorky little brother, Ferguson.

All My Children

At 9 years old, Trachtenberg did a three-episode stint, originating the role of Lily Montgomery on All My Children. Lily, who lived with autism, was the stepdaughter of Jackson Montgomery and daughter of Laurel Bannon.

The Adventures of Pete & Pete

The Adventures of Pete & Pete saw Trachtenberg playing Iggy Pop’s daughter, Nona Mecklenberg. She started out as just a neighbor but quickly became Little Pete’s best friend. She wore a cast all the time just to make her arm itchy.

Harriet the Spy

Harriet the Spy brought Trachtenberg’s true star power front and center as the curious, observant Harriet M. Welsch. The slick mover found herself in trouble when her sworn enemy got her spy notebook and exposed her to her whole class, all while her best friend and babysitter Golly (Rosie O’Donnell) were forced to move on.

Inspector Gadget

Trachtenberg played Penny in the live-action adaptation, based loosely on the ’80s animated TV series. She shined in the role of the trusty, quick-thinking sidekick to Matthew Broderick‘s Inspector Gadget.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

In 2000, Trachtenberg joined the cast of Buffy the Vampire Slayer as Dawn Summers. Buffy’s little sister. She had a big impact on the show’s action, introduced as if she was always there when her appearance in the show’s timeline actually became significant in later seasons. After some tenuous adolescent years, the character grew to find her strength.

EuroTrip

Trachtenberg’s role in this raunchy teen comedy took a few people by surprise. Her character, Jenny, was the girl twin of another character, Jamie. The two are nothing alike, but because she hangs out with her brother’s friends, she’s dismissed as “one of the guys,” and they largely ignore her comments. Her occasional chime-ins as the female voice of reason balanced out an otherwise bro-centric film.

Ice Princess

In Disney’s Ice Princess, Trachtenberg played Casey Carlyle, a smart girl who has always been focused on schoolwork but takes a chance on her love of skating and finds out she could be great. With a different vision for her future than her mom, Casey was forced to figure out what she wants and what’s best for her life.

Black Christmas

In this 1974 slasher film remake, Trachtenberg played Michelle, one of several sorority sisters trying to dodge a murderer on Christmas Day 2006.

17 Again

Trachtenberg played Maggie, the daughter of Mike and Scarlet, in 17 Again. She was born to the pair as teen parents, derailing plans the two had for the future. Fast-forward to her own teen years and she’s dating a guy her dad can’t stand who torments her little brother, until a series of changes has her looking at life differently.

Take Me Home Tonight

In Take Me Home Tonight, Trachtenberg had a bit part as Ashley. The goth girl took notice of character Barry at a party and gave him some advice that went against the grain, giving him new perspective.

Killing Kennedy

Trachtenberg showed her range as Marina Oswald in Killing Kennedy, a dramatized telling of John F. Kennedy Jr.’s assassination. As the Russian-born wife of Lee Harvey Oswald, Trachtenberg captured the complexity by drawing from her own mom’s Russian background.

Gossip Girl

Trachtenberg was beloved as a devious villain in the original Gossip Girl run. When the show was rebooted, her character Georgina Sparks and her son Milo both revisited in a blast from the past that had viewers of the original series enthralled. It would be Trachtenberg’s final TV performance.