Angus Cloud, who gained fame as Fezco “Fez” O’Neill in the HBO hit Euphoria, has died unexpectedly at the age of 25, his family said in a statement to TMZ.
"It is with the heaviest heart that we had to say goodbye to an incredible human today. As an artist, a friend, a brother and a son, Angus was special to all of us in so many ways," read the statement. "Last week he buried his father and intensely struggled with this loss. 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 humor, laughter and love for everyone," the statement continued. "We ask for privacy at this time as we are still processing this devastating loss."
HBO also issued a statement via the Euphoria Twitter account.
"We are incredibly saddened to learn of the passing of Angus Cloud," reads the statement. "He was immensely talented and a beloved part of the HBO and Euphoria family. We extend our deepest condolences to is friends and family during this difficult time."
We are incredibly saddened to learn of the passing of Angus Cloud. 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. pic.twitter.com/PLqkz5Rshc
— euphoria (@euphoriaHBO) July 31, 2023
While most of Cloud’s family resides in Ireland, he was born in Oakland, Calif. in 1998 and would later attend the School of Production Design at Oakland School for the Arts – where, interestingly, he was classmates with Euphoria co-star Zendaya.
In 2018, he would be discovered by a woman who worked for Euphoria casting director Jennifer Venditti while quite literally just walking through the streets of Manhattan: “She asked me if I would be down to do an audition, but she didn’t exactly say what it was for,” Cloud told the Wall Street Journal in 2019. “I thought it was some type of scam.”
It wasn’t, of course, a scam, and Euphoria became a fast hit for HBO after its debut in 2019. Among its many accolades include an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Drama Series, and Cloud quickly became a fan favorite for his lovable drug dealer Fez.
“It’s surreal,” he said of the fame in a 2022 interview with NME. “Everybody knows me [now]. It’s weird.”
There were also those who thought Cloud was barely acting on Euphoria – basically, that Fez was just Cloud. The comparisons to the character he plays and Cloud himself, however, are something both Cloud himself and Venditti pushed back against in a 2022 profile with Variety.
“It bothers me,” Venditti said. “People just think, ‘Oh, he just shows up. He’s just this lazy stoner.’ Like, no. I do [casting work] for the Safdies. I do this for many people. I’ve been doing this for a while, in terms of working with non-actors, and a lot of people can’t do it. It’s not just showing up and being yourself on camera. I’m really proud of him. Angus doesn’t get enough credit.”
Cloud also appeared in 2021 comedy-drama film North Hollywood, and will have a number of posthumous releases, including upcoming drama The Line. Filming on Euphoria Season 3 had not yet started, having been delayed due to the ongoing Hollywood strikes.
Thumbnail credit: Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images
Alex Stedman is a Senior News Editor with IGN, overseeing entertainment reporting. When she's not writing or editing, you can find her reading fantasy novels or playing Dungeons & Dragons.
