Angus Cloud, the actor best known for his role as Fezco “Fez” O’Neill in Euphoria, has died, Variety reports. “It is with the heaviest heart that we had to say goodbye to an incredible human today,” his family said in a statement. “As an artist, a friend, a brother and a son, Angus was special to all of us in so many ways.” Cloud was 25 years old.
“Last week, he buried his father and intensely struggled with this loss,” his family’s statement continues. “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. We ask for privacy at this time as we are still processing this devastating loss.”
Cloud starred as Fez, a drug dealer with a big heart, in the first two seasons of the Emmy-winning drama series Euphoria, winning fans over with his slow drawl and good intentions. He was famously hired with no prior acting experiencing, having been found on the street by a casting scout while hanging out with his friends, but was not playing a dramatized version of himself. “It does bother me when people are like, ‘It must be so easy! You get to go in and be yourself,’” Cloud told Variety in 2022. “I’m like, ‘Why don’t you go and do that?’ It’s not that simple. I brought a lot to the character. You can believe what you want. It ain’t got nothing to do with me.”
Euphoria creator and director Sam Levinson shared a statement about Cloud, noting the impact he had on the cast and viewers alike. “There was no one quite like Angus,” wrote Levinson. “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.”
Beyond the HBO series, Cloud also acted in the 2021 movie North Hollywood as well as this year’s feature film The Line. He was recently cast in a new horror movie by Scream 6 directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, which does not yet have a title, as well as the independent film Your Lucky Day, which has reportedly wrapped already.
Though he didn’t perform music in Euphoria, Cloud was vocal about his love of music offscreen and how he would film music videos for his friends as a teenager. After becoming an actor, Cloud made cameos in several music videos for high-profile artists, including Juice WRLD’s “Cigarettes,” Becky G and Karol G’s “Miamiii,” and Noah Cyrus’ “All Three.”
Musicians and actors have shared tributes to Angus Cloud after learning of his death, including Kid Cudi, Questlove, Janelle Monáe, Kerry Washington, Chloe Bailey, Flavor Flav, and Denzel Curry. Javon Walton, the teenage actor who portrays Fez’s adopted little brother Ashtray on Euphoria, posted a photo of the two hugging on Instagram, captioned, “rest easy brother ❤️🕊.”