Angus Cloud dealt with drug addiction, grief and prior overdose: reports

In the days and months before Angus Cloud’s death in his native Oakland Monday, the 25-year-old “Euphoria” star was struggling with despair over the death of his beloved father, as well as a reported drug addiction, with a man claiming to be his former talent manager saying that his addiction was “severe” and that he had to be revived by Narcan after an overdose in January 2022.

Tributes also poured in Tuesday for Cloud, including from Zendaya, his “Euphoria” co-star who also grew up in Oakland and attended Oakland’s School of the Arts. “Words are not enough to describe the infinite beauty that is Angus,” Zendaya wrote. “I’m so grateful I got the chance to know him in this life, to call him a brother, to see his warm kind eyes and bright smile, or to hear his infectious cackle of a life.” Zendaya also said that Cloud truly was one of those people “who could light up a room.” She said, “He was the best of it.”

Oakland police said they are investigating a death that occurred just after 11:30 a.m. Monday in which an unnamed victim was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of death is unknown.

Late Monday afternoon, TMZ posted audio of a 911 call, reportedly from Cloud’s mother at about 11:30 a.m. Monday, in which she reported a “possible overdose” and said her son “doesn’t have a pulse.”

Cloud’s publicist, Cait Bailey, confirmed that the actor, who played the kind-hearted drug dealer Fezco on HBO’s hit show, had died Monday, but she did not give a cause of death, the Associated Press reported. In a statement, Cloud’s family said he had been open about his mental health challenges and had been grieving the recent death of his 65-year-old Irish-born father, Conor Hickey.

“Last week he buried his father and intensely struggled with this loss,” the family’s statement said. “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.”

Cloud’s mother, Lisa Cloud McLaughlin, revealed on Facebook in May that Hickey died in May after being diagnosed with cancer. She said it “moved quickly, which was devastating to all who loved him.”  She also about her husband, “He is the love of my life. He was an incredible father to his three children, and a great support to many many others as well.”

Now, the family is saying goodbye to Angus, whom they said was “an artist, a friend, a brother and a son.” They said they hoped “the world remembers him for his humor, laughter and love for everyone.” HBO also issued a statement, expressing sadness over Cloud’s death and said he was “a beloved part of the HBO and Euphoria family.”

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

TMZ and The Sun reported that Cloud attended an album release party Friday night for the local rap group MacArthur Maze. In photos and videos from the party, Cloud appeared to be having a good time. The Sun quoted other attendees who said that Cloud stayed at the party for a few hours and showed no signs of any personal struggle. Cloud’s close friend, Josh Kennedy, told The Sun that Cloud said he was “sad” about his father, but “very happy” to be back in the Bay Area.

“He was in Ireland for a while, we spoke about his dad recently, he was sad about it, but he seemed to be doing okay,” said Kennedy, who said he grew up with Cloud. Kennedy also addressed his friend’s struggles with addiction, telling The Sun he tried to be there for him. “We have had talks plenty of times,” Kennedy said. “But you know, at the end of the day, you can’t control everything. Things will just play out. Sadly, sometimes it’s just terrible.”

In an undated interview shared on TikTok, Cloud appeared to be struggling. He talked about the way people could go his social media accounts and see him “smiling and happy and living my life, like everything’s good.” While talking and gesturing slowly, he stated, “Everything’s not good. Everything’s pretty bad. Know what I’m saying? Like, my life personally … I’m maintaining you know what I’m saying? But generally, this (expletive) if (expletive) up.”

Three months before Cloud’s death, Diomi Cordero, Cloud’s ex-talent manager, outlined the actor’s addiction struggles in an 18-part Twitter thread that he subsequently deleted, Page Six reported. In the thread, he said he began working as Cloud’s talent manager in 2021 after the two met at a rehab clinic, the Daily Beast also reported.

Cordero explained that he was working as a “mental health technician,” while Cloud was a patient, Page Six and the Daily Beast reported. The actor expressed a desire to be represented by a young, Black talent manager, so Cordero said he left his job to work for Cloud, inexplicably helping him secure a publicist, accountant and a SAG-AFTRA account.

Cloud was doing well and maintaining his sobriety for a time during the filming of Season 2 of “Euphoria,” Cordero said, but the actor relapsed in the summer of 2021 and things “eventually deteriorated.” By November 2021, the actor had “evidently relinquished control of his addiction,” Cordero alleged.

In January 2022, Cordero alleged, he received a frantic call from one of Cloud’s roommates who said the actor was overdosing. Cordero rushed to the scene, gave the actor Narcan and performed CPR, he said. Cloud briefly regained his sobriety while working on a film shoot in Oklahoma but relapsed again, Cordero alleged. By February 2022, Cordero said he had resigned as Cloud’s manager due to the actor’s “verbal abuse” and and “severe drug addiction.” Cordero claimed in his thread that he was still owed $60,000 in management fees.

The Daily Beast reported in April that Cloud did not respond to a request for comment about Cordero’s claims.

As Cloud himself said in interviews, he experienced a dizzying rush to stardom. He hadn’t acted before he was cast in “Euphoria.” While a student at the Oakland School for the Arts, he said he limited himself to building sets and working on lighting and sound for the school’s theater department, according to a 2019 Wall Street Journal profile.

His life changed when he was working as a waiter in New York City in 2018 and spotted while walking down the street in Greenwich Village by a Hollywood casting scout, as he told the New York Times in 2022.

Cloud told the New York Times in 2022 that he was resistant to the approach from Eléonore Hendricks at first, suspecting “a scam,” but his friend convinced him to follow through. He soon came to the attention of “Euphoria” creator Sam Levinson, who eventually made him a co-star in the series, alongside future Emmy Award winner Zendaya, who also grew up in Oakland and attended the Oakland School for the Arts.

“Before this, I didn’t have any desire to act,” Cloud told the New York Times. “I guess I was just at the right place at the right time.”

Angus Cloud came into Euphoria with no acting experience and then effortlessly created the show’s most charming character. He had a long career ahead of him, but Fez alone will be an iconic character for generations. I hope he’s at peace now. pic.twitter.com/Gxp2ZSn3zA

— The King of Burbank (@akingofburbank) July 31, 2023