Some co-stars just leave an imprint that never fades—and Michelle Trachtenberg was one of those rare lights. On April 23, Penn Badgley stepped onto the red carpet for Netflix’s You Season 5 premiere, but the air was heavy with emotion. While promoting the final chapter of the series that has consumed his 30s, Badgley paused to reflect on a loss that hit Gossip Girl fans (and cast) like a gut punch: the death of Michelle Trachtenberg at age 39.
“What I remember of her is she was incredibly quick to laugh,” Badgley told E! News, visibly moved. “She was really joyous. We all have our ups and downs… but she had this childlike, joyous laugh.” His voice, like many of ours, seemed caught somewhere between heartbreak and disbelief. “It’s surreal. Really surreal. Really saddening.”
Penn Badgley, who hasn’t seen Michelle in over a decade, still called her a “really pure heart.” And if you followed her career—from Buffy the Vampire Slayer to Gossip Girl, Mercy, and beyond—you know that’s not just sentiment. That’s truth. Michelle wasn’t just another actress in the CW universe—she was iconic, memorable, and, dare we say, electric.
Michelle Trachtenberg was a scene-stealer with “childlike joy”
Blake Lively said it best in her Instagram tribute: “She was electricity… Everything she did, she did 200 percent.” And if you ever caught a behind-the-scenes moment from the Gossip Girl set or watched her hilariously committed scenes as Georgina Sparks, you felt that voltage. Every scene was alive because she was in it.
Chace Crawford remembered Michelle as “a force of nature” and “so unapologetically funny and magnetic.” James Van Der Beek shared a video of Michelle rapping Nicki Minaj’s verses from “Shakin’ It for Daddy,” calling her a “wild force of nature.” Danny Tamberelli, her Pete & Pete co-star, recalled her hilarious clothespin pranks.
And Sarah Michelle Gellar’s tearjerking tribute—“I will live… for you”—left Buffy fans in shambles.
Michelle’s light wasn’t just on camera—it was who she was. Her laughter echoed on set, her energy lifted every room, and her presence turned even small roles into fan-favorite moments. Her sudden passing is a heartbreak that reminds us how closely our memories are tied to the people who helped shape them.
Penn Badgley says goodbye to Joe Goldberg (and a decade of his life)
In honoring Michelle’s legacy, Penn Badgley also finds himself reflecting on the strange journey he’s taken since Gossip Girl. While the loss of a beloved co-star pulls him back to his roots, the end of You marks the close of a deeply personal era.
“I was 30 when I took the role [of Joe]. I’m going to be 39 this year,” he told People. “I became a father while I was on this show. I only got married just before I took the role. So I’ve grown a lot, and I’ve grown with Joe in a strange way.”
Through all the darkness that You explored, Penn Badgley brought a layered vulnerability to Joe Goldberg: an antihero we’ve loved to hate for five seasons. As he prepares to bid farewell, he carries not just the evolution of a complex character but the emotional weight of a career shaped by friendships, goodbyes, and growing up in front of the camera.
This final season of You is more than a narrative conclusion. It’s a personal one. And in remembering Michelle (with her sparkle, her mischief, her laugh) it’s a reminder of how precious every chapter, every costar, and every smile truly is.
