Rosie O'Donnell is reflecting on her interactions with her late "Harriet the Spy" co-star, Michelle Trachtenberg, in the months leading up to her death. In an interview with Variety published Thursday, O'Donnell described Trachtenberg as being in "pretty bad shape" during their final conversations.
"She would call me and we would talk," O'Donnell recalled. "We were supposed to see each other three or four times, and she just never showed up — sometimes at restaurants, other times at my house where we’d had someone prepare the whole meal." O'Donnell noted that when she would call to check in, Trachtenberg would seem disoriented about their plans, indicating she was not well.
O'Donnell expressed that she didn't initially believe Trachtenberg would succumb to addiction, stating, "With most people suffering from addiction, their loved ones think that they’ll survive it, but you can die from your addiction to drugs or alcohol, and it happens too often that it must be taken seriously."
Trachtenberg, known for her roles in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Gossip Girl," died on February 26, 2025, at the age of 39. The New York medical examiner cited complications of diabetes mellitus as her cause of death, with no mention of substance use. Reports later confirmed Trachtenberg had undergone a liver transplant in the months prior to her death and may have faced related complications.
In January 2024, Trachtenberg had posted on Instagram to address speculation about her appearance, writing, "This is my face. Not malnutrition no problems."
O'Donnell told Variety that she now wishes she "could have done more" for Trachtenberg, adding that the actor "was inaccessible toward the end, and it was tragic." O'Donnell drew a parallel to situations where those close to a celebrity may be hesitant to intervene due to employment ties.
O'Donnell also referenced her own daughter, Chelsea, who has faced substance use issues. "She’s been sober a year and a half and she’s currently in prison, sadly, but she was born addicted to drugs and never really had a fair shake," O'Donnell said. "It’s very serious and there are millions of families in America going through the same thing."
O'Donnell's interview coincides with her return to the New York stage in "Common Knowledge," a show that includes anecdotes about her child and her move to Ireland.