One of Michelle Trachtenberg‘s earliest co-stars is mourning her sudden death.
The Buffy the Vampire Slayer star died on Wednesday morning in NYC, possibly due to complications from a liver transplant she underwent recently, according to police sources who spoke with ABC News. Her mother was the one who found the 39-year-old in her apartment. Just gut-wrenching.
Shortly after the devastating news, Michelle’s Dave’s World co-star, Zane Carney, took to Instagram to pen a heartfelt tribute to his “first love” — while revealing they used to date. Aw.
Related: Michelle Fans React To Heartbreaking News Of Her Death…
Alongside a throwback photo, Zane — who is now an accomplished guitarist who has played for artists like John Mayer and Joe Jonas — wrote:
“I just heard the news about Michelle and I’m in shock…very few of you know about my former child acting days, but I was on a sitcom from 1993-1996 called Dave’s World, long before I picked up a guitar.”
While he was on the sitcom, Michelle was making a name for herself thanks to her hit movie Harriet The Spy — which the musician was a big fan of. He recalled:
“I remember seeing Harriet The Spy and IMMEDIATELY developing the biggest crush on Michelle (the lead!) I bought all the merch, rewatched it on VHS and hoped that one day I’d meet her so she could be my girlfriend.”
Little did he know, he’d get his wish one day! He continued:
“Then I got a word from our casting director that Michelle Trachtenberg herself was going to be a *gasp* GUEST STAR ON OUR NEXT EPISODE! I was so nervous to meet her, and the second she stepped on set my feelings for her grew tenfold…also, even though my Mom somehow pulled out the most classic of Mom moves – showing literal baby photos of me to Michelle’s mother (of course Michelle walked up WHILE THIS HUMILIATION WAS OCCURRING) – she and I developed a truly deep and special connection. Within a few weeks, we were boyfriend and girlfriend (I know, I still can’t believe it either). Michelle was my first love.”
Aw, that’s so sweet! A true romantic, the child actor wanted to make sure his new girlfriend felt the love on her birthday soon after, so he went all out, he noted:
“For her birthday a few months later, my Dad helped me record a version of the Beatles’ ‘Michelle’ which we played over the loudspeakers at her birthday party at The Oakwoods. She ran out of the party half-embarrassed-half-smitten (as kids do) but later revealed how much that meant to her.”
Young love is so precious! Even after their childhood romance ended, they remained in each other’s lives, Zane shared:
“We stayed in touch all these years and even spoke as recently as October/November 2024. There’s no other way to say it other than that she was my first love (and I may have been hers, as well…) I loved her brain, her wit, her seemingly unlimited energy, her effortless beauty, her loyalty and how every room she entered became precisely *infinity percent* more fun, just because she was in it. So many others have much more to say, but I just wanted to share how much I adored Michelle and how sad I am to know that I won’t be able to laugh or reminisce with her anymore. She was such a unique treasure of a soul and she will be unbelievably missed by the Carney/Heil household. We love you forever Michelle and our hearts go out to the entire Trachtenberg family
“
“Whoa. What a beautiful tribute!
Friend Mara Wilson commented on the post:
“I’m in tears reading this. That was a difficult time in my life, but being with you guys was always a wonderful escape from whatever other craziness was going on. The two of you were such good friends to me, and absolutely adorable together.”
Our hearts go out to all those mourning this tremendous loss. May she rest in peace.
[Image via WENN & Zane Carney/Instagram & CBS/Paramount Pictures]
