Zane Carney paid tribute to his late ex Michelle Trachtenberg.
Michelle tragically passed away at the age of 39 at her home in NYC this week. Tributes have been pouring in from costars, friends and former collaborators.
On Wednesday night (February 26), Zane reflected on losing the actress, who he described as his “first love.” He shared details about their relationship and how they had stayed in touch over the years.
Keep reading to find out more…
Zane posted a throwback photo with Michelle on Instagram.
You can read his full statement below:
“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 1993-1997 called Dave’s World, long before I picked up a guitar.
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.
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.
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.
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 ❤️”