Daniel Mickelson's girlfriend Maddie Haley mourns rising actor as she shares photo tribute after his death aged 23: 'I don't want this to be real'

• e-mail

Daniel Mickelson's girlfriend Maddie Haley paid emotional tribute to the rising star on Monday, hours after his tragic death.

The much-loved actor - who starred in the 2019 TV series Mani and indie horror film The Killer Clown Meets the Candy Man - died on July 4, aged 23. No details surrounding the circumstances of his death have been released.

In the hours following the news, Mickelson was honored by friends and family on social media, including girlfriend Maddie Haley.

Memories: Daniel Mickelson's girlfriend Maddie Haley is mourning the rising star who died suddenly on Sunday aged 23

'I don't want this to be real. Words can't even describe how I'm feeling right now. Last night I lost my best friend in the whole world. I feel like my hearts been ripped out of my chest. Daniel you were the kindest person I have ever met,' she wrote.

The student nurse shared a number of photos and clips from her time with the actor who she dated for about a year.

'You lit up every room with your contagious smile and never failed to make anyone happy. There wasn't one day that went by where you didn't go out of your way to make me feel special and loved. I wish I could call you right now and hear you tell me everything is going to be okay.' she added.

Her love: The student nurse shared a number of photos and clips from her time with the actor who she dated for about a year

'You lit up every room with your contagious smile and never failed to make anyone happy. There wasn't one day that went by where you didn't go out of your way to make me feel special and loved.' Haley wrote

Touching tribute: Haley posted multiple photos and recordings of the actor on her Instagram, which showcased their relationship over the past year

D&M: In one clip Mickelson is seen smiling as the couple enjoy an anniversary picnic together

Haley also wrote that she wished their 'plans to spend the rest of' their lives together 'weren't stripped away.'    

'I wish I could tell you how much I love you and I wish I got the chance to say goodbye. I'm not sure how I'm going to get through this but I'm going to be strong for you because I know it's what you would have wanted,' she wrote. 

She concluded her tribute by stating: 'Everything I do now is for you. Now I have a guardian angel by my side for the rest of my life. I am going to make you so proud. I love you forever babe.'

Daniel's sister Meredith commented on the sweet post to write, 'he loved you more than anything and i love you more than anything ❤️.' 

'I miss you so much': Haley, a student nurse, shared a handful of fond memories of the actor

Cuddled up: Another photo showed the couple with big smiles in bed together

Meredith, a model and fashion designer, announced the rising star's death on Monday, posting a picture of them as children.

Meredith said her heart was 'shattered' and that she had lost her 'brother, best friend & the other half of my heart'. 

On the post, Meredith wrote: 'There wasn't a person I loved more on this earth. There's no words that can do him justice that I could write. To know him was to love him.

'I don't want this to be real. Words can't even describe how I'm feeling right now. Last night I lost my best friend in the whole world. I feel like my hearts been ripped out of my chest. Daniel you were the kindest person I have ever met,' she wrote

Heart-wrenching: Mickelson's younger sister, model Meredith Mickelson announced the devastating news of his passing on July 4

Kaia Gerber led celebrity homages to Mikelson with an emotional tribute to the late actor on her Instagram

Tragic: In her emotional tribute shared to her Instagram Story, the model reflected on their close friendship and all the 'laughter and happiness' he brought to the world

'He was the happiest brightest smiley most sunshine human to exist and I'm so happy God chose me to be his sister for his whole amazing life.' 

Meredith's comment section was flooded with messages from celebrity friends who were mourning Daniel.

'I love you forever big brother,' Amelia Hamlin, 20, wrote. 'I can't believe this is real.' 

Patrick Schwarzenegger commented he was 'praying' for Meredith as she grieves. 

Cindy Crawford's daughter Kaia Gerber led celebrity homages to Mickelson with an emotional tribute to the late actor.

The supermodel, 19, reflected on their close friendship and all the 'laughter and happiness' he brought to this world for the past two decades in a heartfelt Instagram Story.

Sharing a screenshot from a FaceTime call, Kaia wrote: 'I remember that time we sat on the couch and spent the whole day coming up with our own secret language that we continued to speak every time we saw each other.'

Gone too soon: Numerous stars paid tribute to the rising actor, after learning he tragically passed away at the age of 23 on Sunday

Upsetting: Among the first stars to pay tribute to Daniel was Patrick Schwarzenegger, who said he was 'praying' for his devastated sister Meredith

Tragic: Meredith's comments was flooded with messages from celebrities including Paris Hilton and Madison Beer, who were mourning Daniel

She added: 'I wish we could go back there. I wish we were still talking in sentences that probably annoyed everyone else but made us crack up every time.' 

Gerber went on to confess she wishes they could still FaceTime as she sat on the bathroom floor because it's 'the only place' she has Wi-Fi and she 'never wanted to miss a call from' him.  

'Thank you for being the reason for so much laughter and happiness in the world. It won't be the same without you here. I love you Daniel,' she concluded on Monday night.  

The rising star, who was born in Atlanta, Georgia, also starred in indie horror film The Killer Clown Meets the Candy Man (pictured) 

Daniel Mickelson, 23, is best known for his appearance in 2019 TV series Mani (pictured)