Angus Cloud, the 25 year-old actor best known for his starring role on HBO’s teen drama Euphoria, has died. “It is with the heaviest heart that we had to say goodbye to an incredible human today,” Cloud’s family said in a statement provided to TMZ. “As an artist, a friend, a brother and a son, Angus was special to all of us in so many ways.””
Cloud’s cause of death hasn’t been revealed just yet but in their statement his family disclosed that Cloud’s father passed away last week and Angus had been struggling to process the 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.” The family added that they hope Cloud will be remembered “for his humor, laughter and love for everyone.”
Cloud’s acting career took off after he was literally discovered on a Manhattan street by a Euphoria casting director. After just two auditions, he had the role of Fezco, the monosyllabic drug dealer with a heart of gold, a character who, professions aside, bore a lot of similarities to Cloud himself. “I wasn’t trying to learn how to act on the plane over there,” he told GQ of going to his first ever acting audition, reasoning that since the producers reached out to him for his look and vibe, that’s what he would give them. “Imma just show up and do what they want and then be done.”
Fezco became an instant fan-favorite—for his protectiveness towards Zendaya’s Rue and later for a sweetly innocent odd couple arc that found him romancing Maude Apatow’s nebbish character Lexi—so much so that it spurred creator Sam Levinson to keep the character around for much longer than he intended.
Viewers loved Fezco for his honor, authenticity and nonchalant charm and in interviews Cloud, an Oakland native who skated, modeled and was a big proponent of regional Bay Area rap, seemed to suggest that drug dealing was the only big difference between himself and his breakout character. He has said that he re-worked his dialog often to sound more like something he would actually say, including the show’s best line delivery.
Cloud had several film projects in the works in an attempt to expand his palette and take his burgeoning career seriously, but still seemed to be in awe of his new station in life. “I still don’t understand it. I still get up and I’m like,”What the heck? What am I doing here? Why did they not hire a professional actor?” he said. “I just had to come to terms because during the filming of the pilot everyone would say, Oh you’re killing it and I was like, No, I’m not, but thank you for trying to make me feel better. I felt like I was doing a terrible job. [But the fan reaction] gave me that solid evidence that was like, Damn, actually I guess I must be doing something right.