Angus Cloud, Euphoria actor, dies aged 25

Angus Cloud, the actor who starred as the drug dealer Fezco “Fez” O’Neill on the HBO series Euphoria, has died at the age of 25.

Cloud’s publicist, Cait Bailey, said he died on Monday at his family home in Oakland, California. No cause of death was given.

The actor, whose full name was Conor Angus Cloud Hickey, had family roots in Ireland.

In a statement, Cloud’s family said goodbye to “an artist, a friend, a brother and a son. Last week he buried his father and intensely struggled with this loss,” the family said.

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“The only comfort we have is knowing Angus is now reunited with his dad, who was his best friend. Angus was open about his battle with mental health and we hope that his passing can be a reminder to others that they are not alone and should not fight this on their own in silence.”

“We hope the world remembers him for his humour, laughter and love for everyone,” his family said.

Cloud had not acted before he was cast in Euphoria.

He was walking down the street in New York when casting scout Eleonore Hendricks noticed him. Cloud was resistant at first, suspecting a scam.

Then casting director Jennifer Venditti met him and series creator Sam Levinson eventually made him a co-star in the series alongside Zendaya for its first two seasons.

To some, Cloud seemed so natural as Fez that they suspected he was identical to the character – a notion that Cloud pushed back against.

“It does bother me when people are like, ‘It must be so easy! You get to go in and be yourself.’ I’m like, ‘Why don’t you go and do that?’ It’s not that simple,” Cloud told Variety.

“I brought a lot to the character. You can believe what you want. It ain’t got nothing to do with me.”

The part made Cloud the breakout star of one the most popular shows on television.

He was recently cast to co-star in Scream 6.

“We are incredibly saddened to learn of the passing of Angus Cloud,” HBO said in a statement.

“He was immensely talented and a beloved part of the HBO and Euphoria family. We extend our deepest condolences to his friends and family during this difficult time.”

He was most often in Euphoria scenes alongside his partner in crime Ashtray, played by Javon Walton.

Sharing a picture of the pair on Instagram, Walton wrote: “Rest easy brother” and later “forever family”.

Meanwhile, Kathrine Narducci, who played Cloud’s on-screen grandmother Marie O’Neill in Euphoria, described him as a “gentle beautiful soul” who “exited to soon” on Twitter.

Storm Reid, who plays Zendaya’s on-screen younger sister Gia Bennett, shared a clip of Cloud laughing on the show to her Instagram story, captioning it: “The tears just won’t stop.”

Alexa Demie, who plays Maddy Perez, posted a heartbreak emoji on her Instagram story.

Canadian rapper Drake, who serves as executive producer on Euphoria, shared a picture of Cloud on his Instagram story, captioning it “Good soul”, alongside a sad face emoji and a white dove.

In a statement shared with US outlets, Euphoria director Levinson said: “There was no one quite like Angus. He was too special, too talented and way too young to leave us so soon.

“He also struggled, like many of us, with addiction and depression. I hope he knew how many hearts he touched.

“I loved him. I always will. Rest in peace and God Bless his family.”

The acting world was left reeling following the news of Cloud’s death, including West Side Story’s Rachel Zegler.

The US actor tweeted: “Please remember how loved you are. This world is so quick to make you feel otherwise.

“There are reasons to stick around. And this world needs you.

“Oh, Angus. we celebrate you.”

Scandal star Kerry Washington told Cloud to “rest in power” on Twitter, adding “You will be deeply missed”, while British model and actor Suki Waterhouse said she was “heartbroken” following the news.

US model Gigi Hadid also remembered Cloud after they starred together in a 2022 Christmas campaign for Ralph Lauren Fragrances.

Sharing a clip of the pair dancing for the campaign on her Instagram story, Hadid wrote: “Just saw the news about the loss of Angus.

“I only got to work with him a couple of times, but I was immediately drawn to his kind, gentle spirit.”

A fortnight before his death, Cloud posted a picture of his father wearing a red tracksuit, captioning it: “Miss u breh.”