Angus Cloud, the actor best known for his role as Fezco on the HBO series “Euphoria,” died at the age of 25. The sudden loss of the actor was confirmed on July 31, 2023.
His family released a statement to Variety at the time, saying, “It is with the heaviest heart that we had to say goodbye to an incredible human today.” They described him as “special to all of us in so many ways” as “an artist, a friend, a brother and a son.”
Initial reports on July 31, 2023, indicated that the cause of death was unknown and that the Oakland Police Department (OPD) was conducting an active death investigation. The OPD had responded to a call at Cloud’s residence after 11:30 a.m. where a victim was pronounced dead on the scene, according to a statement obtained by J-14.
The Oakland Fire Department also responded to a medical emergency at approximately 11:30 a.m. on July 31, 2023, in the 200 block of Euclid Ave in Oakland. Upon arrival, Fire EMS personnel found the patient already deceased. Per protocol, the body was left in the care of the police department and coroner, according to their statement.
Us Weekly had confirmed that Cloud’s mother reported a “possible overdose” in a 911 call ahead of his passing. TMZ and ET also reported that Oakland PD responded to a 911 call made around 11:30 am on July 31, 2023, by Cloud’s mom, reporting a “possible overdose,” and said her son did not have a pulse.
More than a month later, in September 2023, the official cause of death was reported as an accidental drug overdose. The Alameda County Coroner’s Office confirmed, according to Entertainment Weekly, that Cloud had died due to “acute intoxication due to combined effects of methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, and benzodiazepines.” NBC and Page Six confirmed on September 21, 2023, that the actor died from an accidental overdose of fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, and more, and suffered acute intoxication from the combination of drugs, which also included benzodiazepine.
Rumors had circulated online suggesting that Cloud’s death was due to suicide following the recent passing of his father. Cloud’s family’s initial statement had noted that he “Last week he buried his father and intensely struggled with this loss.” The statement continued, “The only comfort we have is knowing Angus is now reunited with his dad, who was his best friend.”
On August 15, 2023, TMZ reported that law enforcement sources involved in the investigation stated that no suicide note was found. This suggested that his death may have been a tragic accident, which was later confirmed by the coroner.
Cloud’s mother, Lisa Cloud, directly addressed the speculation about suicide in a Facebook post dated August 5, 2023. “Social media posts have suggested his death was intentional,” she wrote, adding, “I want you to know that is not the case.”
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She explained that her son was making plans for the future in his final days. “He was reorganizing his room and placing items around the house with intent to stay a while in the home he loved,” Lisa Cloud wrote. “He spoke of his intent to help provide for his sisters at college, and also help his mom emotionally and financially. He did not intend to end his life.”
Lisa Cloud later confirmed to People that his death was not intentional and shared heartbreaking details about his passing. She told People, “It was predominantly the central nervous system depressants. It started to slow his heart and slow his breathing.”
“He got tired from lack of oxygen. Everything just slowed down, and eventually his heart stopped and he went to sleep. But he didn’t kill himself,” Lisa Cloud told People. She also shared that she was the one who found Angus passed out, attempted resuscitation, and had a neighbor call 911, but it was too late.
Cloud’s struggles with substance abuse had been significant throughout his life. According to reports, his battle with addiction began after he suffered a severe brain injury at the age of 15. Following the injury, he was introduced to opioids to manage the pain, which eventually led to a dependency on drugs.
Over time, his addiction worsened, particularly during his rise to fame on the show “Euphoria.” In addition to his addiction, Cloud also dealt with the emotional turmoil of losing his father, which had a profound impact on him, according to his mother.
Cloud’s father, Conor Hickey, passed away at age 65 after a battle with cancer. He was buried in Ireland, in the family’s home village of County Meath, a week before Angus’s death. Cloud had just returned home to Oakland from being in Ireland for the funeral, according to reports.
A family friend, Mick Gleeson, told the Daily Mail in an article published on August 2, 2023, how deeply the death of Cloud’s father affected the actor. Gleeson stated that Cloud was so traumatized he couldn’t bring himself to attend the memorial service or cremation. “He was just so traumatized that he could not attend. He was in a very bad way and in total shock. He was in such a fragile state and struggling with the death of his father,” Gleeson told the Daily Mail.
Gleeson recounted trying to support Cloud: “I sat down with him and said he was now the man of the family, and he just could not handle it. He was a broken man.” Another friend added in the Daily Mail report, “I think coming back to his father’s place of birth and all that contained was just too much for him. He could not face the final goodbye to his father. It is awful that he felt so overcome that his own life has come to an end.”
Cloud received support from various sources throughout his struggles. The production team of “Euphoria” recognized the challenges he faced, and the show’s creator, Sam Levinson, who had his own battles with addiction, personally encouraged Cloud to seek treatment.
Levinson facilitated Cloud’s entry into rehabilitation programs, and HBO, the network behind “Euphoria,” paid for his initial 30-day in-patient treatment, demonstrating support for his well-being beyond his acting role. His family, particularly his mother, also played a crucial role in his support system, providing emotional support and advocating for his health.
Before his breakout role, Cloud was discovered unexpectedly on the street in Brooklyn by a casting agent for “Euphoria.” He recalled this experience, sharing, “I definitely thought it could be some kind of scam,” in an interview with i-D. “Then they brought me back in and they showed me the role, and it made more sense. Because in my mind I was like, they stopped me because I look like I could be a star? Then I’m like, no, it’s because I look like I could be a drug dealer.”
Cloud reflected on his sudden success, telling i-D, “The difference between me and everyone else who’s famous it’s that they were trying to go get famous, for the most part. They were working hard, and they were like, ‘I’m going to make it to the top’. For me, it was just like too good of an opportunity to say no to. I had no idea it would go this far.”
Beyond “Euphoria,” Cloud had completed filming on multiple other projects before his death. These included the films “Freaky Tales,” “Your Lucky Day,” and an untitled monster thriller for Universal Pictures. He also appeared in “The Line,” “North Hollywood,” and “Abigail.”
“Abigail” is listed as his final role on-screen, premiering in cinemas on April 19, 2024. The synopsis describes it as a film where “A group of would-be criminals kidnaps the 12-year-old daughter of a powerful underworld figure. Holding her for ransom in an isolated mansion, their plan starts to unravel when they discover their young captive is actually a bloodthirsty vampire.” Cloud played the character of Dean in this film.
The untitled Universal film, which wrapped filming before his death, was at one point titled “Dracula’s Daughter” and centered on kidnappers who abduct a band of young people, one of whom is the titular character, according to THR.com. Plot details were kept under wraps, and its release was delayed by industry strikes.
