Rosie O’Donnell told Variety that the unexpected death of her Harriet the Spy co-star Michelle Trachtenberg has left her with lasting regrets. The actress, who remained in touch with Trachtenberg during her final years, called her death “a tragedy” and said she wished she could have done more to help.
Rosie O’Donnell reflects on the regrets she carries after Michelle Trachtenberg’s death
Speaking to Variety, O’Donnell reflected on Trachtenberg’s performance in the 1996 film Harriet the Spy and praised her as a gifted young actress. Remembering her late co-star, O’Donnell said, “It was a tragedy. She was a real genius child who was able to memorize anything, pick up her lines, you could improvise with her, and she was connected and right there.”
The comedian said that Trachtenberg had a history of drug abuse. She added that she had lost touch with her for a while. They reconnected during Trachtenberg’s final years. She even reached out to the actress’s mother to better understand her co-star’s struggles.
O’Donnell revealed that the two often made plans to meet, but Trachtenberg would either not show up or would forget about their plans. She also said the actress’s death came as a shock. “I wish I could have done more,” she said, explaining that despite her efforts to help, Trachtenberg had become increasingly “inaccessible” toward the end of her life.
O’Donnell also compared Trachtenberg’s struggles to those faced by Whitney Houston, saying that even people close to someone battling addiction often find it difficult to help. She also shared that addiction has affected her own family. O’Donnell noted that her daughter is more than a year sober and is currently serving a prison sentence.
Trachtenberg died in February 2025 at the age of 39. While O’Donnell said she believed addiction contributed to Trachtenberg’s struggles, an official cause of death has been separately reported.
Trachtenberg rose to fame as a child star in Harriet the Spy before earning acclaim for roles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Gossip Girl, EuroTrip, and Ice Princess, becoming one of the most recognizable actresses of her generation.
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