Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · October 12, 2025 · Entertainment

Sarah Michelle Gellar's Red Carpet Power Move: Tribute to Sister Michelle Trachtenberg

Sarah Michelle Gellar showed off her star power in just a tiny black bra underneath a blazer with sequin embroidery and a miniskirt

Sarah Michelle Gellar Sizzles on Red Carpet, Honors Late Costar Michelle Trachtenberg

The Queen of Buffy is back and looking better than ever! Sarah Michelle Gellar, 48, turned heads at New York Comic Con over the weekend with a daring outfit that left fans screaming for more. But it wasn't just her sizzling red carpet appearance that stole the spotlight - the actress also paid a heartfelt tribute to her late costar and on-screen sister, Michelle Trachtenberg.

Gellar, who's known for her iconic role as Buffy Summers, was spotted posing with her Breaking Bear costars at the convention. The actress donned a tiny black bra underneath a sequin-embroidered blazer and paired it with a miniskirt that left little to the imagination. Her toned legs were on full display in stiletto pumps, while dainty silver jewelry added a touch of sophistication to her overall look.

Over the weekend, the 48-year-old actress to attend the third day of New York Comic Con alongside her Breaking Bear costars and posed on the red carpet in a daring outfit; pictured from left to right: Annie Murphy, Brendan Fraser, Elizabeth Hurley, Sarah Michelle Gellar

But what really caught our attention was Gellar's emotional tribute to Trachtenberg, who would have turned 40 this weekend. The actress took to social media to share a heartfelt message, complete with a throwback video of the two hugging on set.

"When you turned 16, it was hard not to still see you as the little girl I met on All My Children," Gellar wrote. "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 added: "This I know ... it would be filled with love. Happy birthday @MichelleTrachtenberg."

At the convention, she took the stage for a panel and sat alongside her voice actor costars to talk about their upcoming Tubi show

The tribute comes just days after Gellar's appearance at New York Comic Con, where she took to the stage alongside her voice actor costars to talk about their upcoming animated show, Breaking Bear.

The series, which was ordered by Tubi in August 2022, follows a dysfunctional family of bears who go full-on gangster to take down frackers, mobsters, and a psychotic wolf pack. It's still currently in post-production, but judging from Gellar's performance at the convention, we can't wait to see what this talented actress brings to the table.

As for Trachtenberg, her death on February 26th sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry. Initially ruled as "undetermined" due to a lack of autopsy results, officials later confirmed that her sudden passing was due to complications from diabetes mellitus.

She and her costars voice characters in 'a dysfunctional family of bears who go full criminal to stop frackers, mobsters and a psychotic wolf pack from destroying their home'

Gellar and Trachtenberg's friendship spans decades, dating back to their time working together on All My Children in the 90s. They also starred alongside each other in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, where Trachtenberg played the role of Dawn Summers, Buffy's younger sister.

The day after Trachtenberg's passing was announced, Gellar paid tribute with photos from their time working on set, writing: "Michelle, listen to me. 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."

Our hearts go out to Gellar and the Trachtenberg family as they celebrate what would have been Michelle's 40th birthday.

Her appearance at the convention comes just hours after she paid a heartbreaking tribute to the late actress Michelle Trachtenberg , whom she referred to as a 'little sister,' on what would have been her 40th birthday; pictured in August 2001

In related news

  • Sarah Michelle Gellar's new animated series, Breaking Bear, has been making waves at New York Comic Con.
  • The actress has been spotted with her costars Annie Murphy, Brendan Fraser, and Elizabeth Hurley at the convention.
  • Trachtenberg's cause of death was later confirmed to be complications from diabetes mellitus.

**What do you think about Gellar's tribute to Trachtenberg? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Gellar shared a throwback video of her and her late costar hugging and set the clip to the tune of Charlie Puth and Wiz Khalifa's song See You Again

She penned a heartbreaking caption while remembering her onscreen sister. 'When you turned 16, it was hard not to still see you as the little girl I met on All My Children,' Gellar began. 'When you turned 21, I had to teach myself to not see you as the little sister anymore.'

Trachtenberg starred as Dawn Summers, the younger sister to Gellar's character Buffy in the series. She joined the iconic TV series in season five and up until the season seven finale in 2003; pictured in 2003

The day after Trachtenberg's death was announced, Gellar paid tribute to her late costar and onscreen 'little sister' with photos of their time working on set of Buffy together. 'Michelle, listen to me. Listen. I love you. I will always love you,' she wrote as she quoted the season five finale episode in which Buffy sacrificed herself for her little sister