Michelle Trachtenberg’s teary-eyed boyfriend Jay Cohen speaks out for first time after her death at 39

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: The sudden death of 'Gossip Girl' star Michelle Trachtenberg has sent shockwaves through Hollywood, leaving her family, and especially her longtime boyfriend Jay Cohen, heartbroken.

Trachtenberg was found unresponsive in her New York City home on Wednesday, February 26, by her mother. 

The couple, who had been linked since 2020, went public with their relationship in 2023, though they had kept their personal lives private. Cohen first introduced Trachtenberg to his social media followers in 2021, marking a rare glimpse into their otherwise private relationship.

Michelle Tranchterberg's BF Jay Cohen speaks for first time after her death

According to DailyMail, Michelle Trachtenberg’s boyfriend, Jay Cohen, was at the Gossip Girl alum's family home in Los Angeles on the day she was found dead. 

When a reporter visited the Sherman Oaks home, the grief-stricken talent agent, 63, answered the door, tearfully stating that “the family will not be commenting on the tragedy.” He confirmed that Trachtenberg's mother and sister were not at home at the time.

Cohen has been living at the residence since 2021. Just weeks before her death, Michelle posted a heartfelt Valentine’s message to him, writing, "Happy Valentine's Day to the man who sits still long enough for me to paint his face," alongside a photo of the couple dressed as Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde for Halloween.

Jay shared his tribute, posting a mirror selfie of the couple with the caption, "My Valentine." 

Michelle later shared the same Halloween photo to celebrate his birthday in March 2024, writing, "Happy Birthday to the man who puts up with me @jaymcohen."

In a statement to the New York Post, Trachtenberg's representative, Gary Mantoosh, confirmed her death and requested privacy for the family during this difficult time. He said, "It is with great sadness to confirm that Michelle Trachtenberg has passed away. The family requests privacy for their loss. There are no further details at this time."

While a medical examiner has yet to determine her cause of death, reports claimed that the actress had recently undergone a liver transplant after struggling with alcohol issues. ABC News sources suggested that she may have experienced complications from the transplant.

Who is Michelle Trachtenberg's boyfriend Jay Cohen?

According to People, Michelle Trachtenberg's partner, Jay Cohen, a father of two from a previous relationship, is a partner at the prestigious Gersh talent agency and has a background in Wall Street. Trachtenberg joined Gersh in 2014.

He began his career in film, collaborating with actors like Dustin Hoffman, Kate Hudson, and Goldie Hawn.

Reflecting on his journey to Los Angeles, Cohen shared in 2015 at the Toronto International Film Festival, "I started out as an investment banker in New York, made my way to L.A., financed some movies for people by accident so I learned how to make movies because I invested in a movie and turns out the producers didn't understand they weren't supposed to the money home."

He went on to explain, "So I took the movie over, learned all about film production, started a production company with Dustin Hoffman, made a lot of movies." Cohen also produced projects such as 'Swimming With Sharks', 'Two for the Money', and 'Bride Wars'.