FILE - Angus Cloud, a cast member in the HBO drama series "Euphoria," poses at the premiere of the series at the ArcLight Hollywood, Tuesday, June 4, 2019, in Los Angeles. Cloud, the actor who starred as the drug dealer Fezco "Fez" O'Neill on the HBO series "Euphoria," has died. He was 25. Cloud's publicist, Cait Bailey, said McCloud died Monday at his family home in Oakland, California. No cause of death was given. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File)
Angus Cloud’s grieving mother Lisa Cloud disputes speculation that her 25-year-old son died by suicide and said she believes his death last Monday was probably due to a drug overdose that was accidental.
In a Facebook post, Lisa Cloud said the “Euphoria” star had recently moved back into the family’s Oakland home and intended to stay for a while, as he was “in deep grief” over his father’s death from cancer in May. But she said her son’s final day was “a joyous one”: He was organizing his room and talking about how he wanted to help his younger sisters with college and her emotionally and financially.
“He did not intend to end his life,” Lisa Cloud said. “When we hugged goodnight we said how much we loved each other and he said he would see me in the morning. I don’t know if or what he may have put in his body after that. I only know that he put his head on the desk where he was working on art project’s, fell asleep and didn’t wake up.”
The death of the up-and-coming actor and model has sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry and his native Oakland. The graduate of the Oakland School for the Arts was known multi-talented young performer, as well as an avid skater and a strong supporter for his hometown and its community of actors, musicians and artists.
Cloud died Monday in his family’s home. As of Friday, Oakland police and the Alameda County Coroner’s Office had not released a cause of death, but police said they are investigating. In a 911 call at 11:30 a.m. Monday, a woman believed to be Cloud’s mother reported a “possible overdose” and said her son didn’t have a pulse. Oakland police said Cloud was pronounced dead at the scene.
TMZ cited sources who said that Cloud had recently been dealing with thoughts of suicide. In a statement the family issued Monday, they said he had “intensely struggled” with the May 18 death of his father, Conor Hickey, from an aggressive form of cancer. The family also said he had been open about battle with mental health issues, adding: “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.”
In her Facebook post, Lisa Cloud acknowledged that her son’s “struggles were real.” She also may be referring to statements by friends and his former manager that he had dealt with a serious drug addiction that in recent years had led to at least one stint in rehab, relapses and efforts to stay sober.
Lisa Cloud mostly took issue with social media speculation that his death was intentional. She said, “I want you to know that is not the case.”
“We may find out that he overdosed accidentally and tragically, but it’s abundantly clear that he did not intend to check out of this world,” she continued. “He gave and received so much love and support to and from his tribe. His work in ‘Euphoria’ became a lightning rod for his generation and opened up a conversation about compassion, loyalty, acceptance and love.”
Cloud played Fez, a kind-hearted drug deal in “Euphoria,” HBO’s hit series about teenagers dealing with drug addiction and other issues.
In her note, Lisa Cloud also said, “Friends, I want you all to know I appreciate your love for my family at this shattered time.” She also expressed gratitude that the family was able to enjoy the past 10 years of Cloud’s life after he survived a head injury in 2013. He revealed in a 2022 interview that he suffered a broken skull and an internal injuries after accidentally falling into a construction pit. Cloud said he almost died.
“His head injury 10 years ago miraculously didn’t result in death as it almost always does,” Lisa Cloud said. “He was given 10 bonus years and filled them with creativity and love.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with feelings of depression or suicidal thoughts, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline offers free, round-the-clock support, information and resources for help. Call or text the lifeline at 988, or see the 988lifeline.org website, where chat is available.
Originally published at Martha Ross