The actress wrote that Trachtenberg “may not have been with us long enough, but we will make sure everyone remembers” her.

Sarah Michelle Gellar pays tribute to Buffy costar Michelle Trachtenberg on first anniversary of her death

The actress wrote that Trachtenberg "may not have been with us long enough, but we will make sure everyone remembers" her.

By Emlyn Travis

Emlyn Travis is a news writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2022. Her work has previously appeared on MTV News, Teen Vogue, and *NME*.

EW's editorial guidelines

February 26, 2026 2:26 p.m. ET

Leave a Comment

Sarah Michelle Gellar and Michelle Trachtenberg attend the 2001 Teen Choice Awards. Credit:

SGranitz/WireImage

Sarah Michelle Gellar is honoring her late *Buffy the Vampire Slayer *sibling Michelle Trachtenberg on the first anniversary of her death.**

The actress, 48, paid tribute to Trachtenberg, who died at 39 last February, in a poignant Instagram post on Thursday. **

“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.”

Michelle Trachtenberg and Sarah Michelle Gellar on the set of 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer'.

20th Century Fox/Courtesy Everett

The* I Know What You Did Last Summer *star explained that she first worked with Trachtenberg on *All My Children* before going on to watch her “become a star” in the 1996 film, *Harriet the Spy*. **

She also remembered Trachtenberg’s kindness both on and offscreen. “You were great to my kids,” Gellar added. “Countless kids bdays you attended even though I’m sure you had somewhere cooler to be.”

The 10 best Michelle Trachtenberg movies and TV shows, ranked

Mara Wilson recalls Michelle Trachtenberg crying over childhood bullying

Gellar continued, “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.” **

Alongside her note, Gellar shared a series of snapshots of her and Trachtenberg taken throughout their decades-long friendship.

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.***

Trachtenberg, who starred as Buffy's younger sister Dawn on the beloved teen drama, was found unconscious and unresponsive in her New York City apartment on Feb. 26. In April, the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner confirmed in a statement to ** that her cause of death was complications from diabetes mellitus. The manner was determined to be natural.

Her passing prompted a wave of love from fans and former costars alike, including several of her *Buffy* pals. Last February, Gellar reacted to Trachtenberg's death in a moving Instagram tribute that referenced the same speech Buffy gave to Dawn in the show's season 5 finale.

“Michelle, listen to me,” Gellar wrote on Instagram. "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."**

Sarah Michelle Gellar pays tribute to 'Buffy' costar Michelle Trachtenberg on first anniversary of her death.

Sarah Michelle Gellar/Instagram

Gellar took to social media again in October to remember her “little sister” on what would’ve been Trachtenberg’s 40th birthday. **

“When you turned 16, it was hard not to still see you as the little girl I met on *All My Children,*” she wrote at the time. “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.”**

She continued, “This I know… it would be filled with love. Happy birthday @michelletrachtenberg.”

- Celebrities & Creators

- Celebrity Death Tributes

Original Article on Source

Source: “EW Celebrity”