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Shawn Ashmore is remembering his ex-girlfriend Michelle Trachtenberg after her death.
Following the news of her death at age 39, the 45-year-old actor mourned the loss of Trachtenberg, who he dated from 2004 to 2006, in a touching tribute on Instagram.
“Incredibly sad to hear about Michelle’s passing,” he wrote alongside a throwback photo of the pair posing together. “She was an incredible person and I will always remember the years we spent together fondly.”
He continued: “She was loving, quirky and would never pass up a law and order SVU marathon:) My condolences to her mother Lana and sister Irene! This is an incredible loss!”
Trachtenberg recalled meeting Ashmore in a 2005 interview with Black Film.
“Well, I put out an ad in the classifieds: Wanted: superhero. I’m a damsel in distress,” she joked. “No, we just met, which is funny, knowing Shawn, he hates anything publicity. He’s so not into that world. We met at an Oscar party and he was just like Mr. Grumpy unhappy to be out in public and I totally approached him.”
She recalled that she was “the forward one,” adding, “I take full credit and actually, we’ve been together a year.”
J. Vespa/WireImage
The NYPD confirmed Trachtenberg’s death to PEOPLE on Wednesday, Feb. 26, sharing that following a 911 call, Trachtenberg was found “unconscious and unresponsive” in her Manhattan apartment around 8 a.m. and pronounced dead at the scene.
“Criminality is not suspected,” the NYPD added. “The Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death. The investigation remains ongoing.”
Though authorities have not yet confirmed her cause of death, police sources told ABC News Trachtenberg recently underwent a liver transplant and may have been experiencing complications.
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The late actress was best known for her roles as Georgina Sparks Gossip Girl and Dawn Summers on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Her entertainment career began after she landed roles on Nickelodeon’s The Adventures of Pete & Pete and soap series All My Children.