Actor Michel Tratchenberg died of complications from diabetes, the New York City Medical Examiner's Office said Wednesday.
Trachtenberg, 39, the star of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” was found dead in a New York City apartment in February. Police said there was no suspected foul play at the time.
Trachtenberg's sudden death shocked fans who were unaware that she was dealing with medical issues. Sources told NBC New York that he had recently undergone a liver transplant. The reason is not clear.
According to Mayo Clinic, diabetes can increase the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease if there is too much fat in the liver. The clinic's website states that the side effects of the disease can be severe liver scarring or cirrhosis.
According to the Center for Disease Management and Prevention, the opposite is also true. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes share overlapping risk factors such as hypertension and high cholesterol.
“Though research on this connection is relatively new, it has been shown that each condition increases the risk of other conditions,” the CDC website states.
In addition to her role in the cult's favorite “Buffy” television series, Trachtenberg was also known for her work on “Gossip Girl.”
From 2000 to 2003, she appeared in over 60 episodes of “Buffy,” as the younger sister of the title character, played by Sarah Michel Guerard.
“Michelle has been exposed to a generation of television fans throughout her career, including her unforgettable role as an independent, strong-willed dawn summer in 'Buffy'.
She also plays Georginas Parks, a fan favorite in 28 episodes of “Gossip Girl” from 2008 to 2012, and is a complicated madness for almost every character on the show.
Gellar paid tribute to Trachtenberg with an emotional post on Instagram.
Gellar's caption was a variation of the last words she spoke in the show's season 5 finale when Buffy sacrificed her life to save her sister.
“Michelle, listen to me. Listen. I love you. I love you. I always love you,” Geller wrote. “The hardest thing in this world is to live there. I'll be brave. I'll live for you.”
