Rosie O'Donnell on 'tragedy' of Michelle Trachtenberg's death: 'I tried to help her'
Actress Rosie O'Donnell discusses her personal efforts to help former co-star Michelle Trachtenberg, who struggled with addiction before her death. O'Donnell highlights the tragedy of the situation and the difficulty of intervening in the lives of those suffering from substance abuse.
Why it matters
It sheds light on the personal toll of addiction within the entertainment industry and the challenges loved ones face when trying to provide support.
Rosie O’Donnell is still mourning the loss of Michelle Trachtenberg. O’Donnell and Trachtenberg starred together in the 1996 film "Harriet the Spy," with O’Donnell playing nanny to the young star. "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," O’Donnell recently told Variety . O’Donnell recalled Trachtenberg being close with her mother, Lana, and a sister, calling them "a very loving family." "Then, you know, she got into drugs and alcohol, I believe, and then I lost touch with her," the 64-yer-old said. Trachtenberg’s official cause of death was determined to be complications from diabetes mellitus, but O’Donnell claims the actress had addiction issues.
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