Angus Cloud’s death in Oakland has sent shockwaves across the East Bay since his passing was announced on Monday. The actor, who grew up near Lake Merritt, turned 25 just three weeks before he died.
While no cause of death was given, a statement from Cloud’s family said that “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 became a household name around the world in recent years thanks to his breakout role in the controversial TV show Euphoria. But those who knew him in Oakland, pre-fame, say the news feels especially personal and painful.
Kehlani paid tribute to Cloud on her Instagram shortly after the news broke, writing: “sat for a long time. u fucked the whole world up, but you really fucked everybody at home up. it’s a deep one. not too many words when it’s this close to home. not many words when it’s a bigger conversation. i ain’t got much more to say except the real person was more complex & more solid than a tv character. that person deserve to be remembered in totality.”
Cloud’s effortless charisma made him an instant star as soon as Euphoria hit TV screens in 2019. Given the near-impossible task of making a violent drug dealer a character to root for, Cloud went one step further and succeeded in making Fezco O’Neill the most lovable character in the whole show. Cloud brought an indescribable depth and well of emotion to the screen, despite delivering almost all of his lines in his naturally slow monotone. In Cloud’s masterful hands, a sly glance or a subtle shoulder hunch said more than any dialog could.
Cloud’s Euphoria co-star and fellow Oaklander Zendaya dedicated an Instagram post to him on Tuesday. “Words are not enough to describe the infinite beauty that is Angus,” she 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 hear his infectious cackle of a laugh.” She went on: “I’d like to remember him that way. For all of the boundless light, love and joy he always managed to give us. I’ll cherish every moment.”
Cloud’s standout performance on Euphoria won him small roles in 2021’s North Hollywood and 2023’s The Line. He has three more movies set for release in the coming months. These include Your Lucky Day (a thriller set in a convenience store), an as-yet-unnamed horror project for Universal, and Freaky Tales, which weaves together four separate stories unfolding in 1987 Oakland.
Justin “Jwalt” Walton, who attended Oakland School for the Arts with Cloud, said it meant a great deal to his friend to work on a project set in Oakland.
“He was Oakland to the fullest and always made sure people knew where he was from,” Walton told KQED Arts via text. “He was proud to be from the town and supported everything and everyone coming from [here]. No matter where he went he always stayed true to himself and what he knew. He was a friend, a great spirit, and big brother to me.”
Cloud graduated from OSA in 2016, despite breaking his skull falling down a massive construction pit in downtown Oakland at the age of 15, and suffering minor brain damage. Kev Choice, who taught at the school when Cloud was a student, remembered him fondly in a post on Instagram.
“Like many in my Oakland community, and around the world, my heart is heavy,” Choice wrote. “I remember vividly seeing him walking around the [OSA] campus and hanging with my students. He had an energy and presence that always stood out and was definitely loved amongst his peers and school community … He reflected the natural brilliance of a lot of our youth, his peers, community, and represented Oakland to the fullest in every way.”
During Cloud’s high school years, he also interned at Youth Radio’s All Day Play radio station. Former station manager Ben Frost remembers Cloud as “a kind of quirky, artistic kid who really didn’t give a fuck about anyone’s take on him.” Frost, like most people in Cloud’s private life, refers to the actor by his birth name, Conor. (Angus was Cloud’s middle name.)
“He was just a very visually creative young kid … a skater and a graffiti kid,” Frost told KQED Arts. “[San Jose DJ Cory “The C.M.E.” Randolph] and his crew had this show on the station for a while called Oops Upside Your Head and Conor did this one artwork for them that was so freaking good, I was blown away by it. I was trying to convince them to make T-shirts and stuff out of it.”
For Frost, watching Cloud become a respected actor and fashion VIP was surreal. “It was crazy to me to just know that this wavy kid who was somewhat of a wild young man was suddenly this international icon,” he said. “He was just a very kind, humble dude who was very sincerely into the art.”
One of the places Cloud skated in his formative years was Town Park Skatepark in West Oakland. Town Park founder and artist K-Dub told KQED Arts that, even post-fame, Cloud had kept in touch with him and other friends from the park.
“It says something about that tight-knit community of skaters and young people trying to find themselves in this wacky world,” K-Dub said. “[Cloud] was part of a crew that would show up after school and help out when we were working on the ramps and everything. He and his friends would skate and film each other. They were a tight crew.”
K-Dub continued: “Hopefully, for our Oakland youth, they know that being creative and following your dreams as an outlet should always be a goal. And should have support. Sometimes you don’t know how much you’re supported … And things like this is when the town kind of puts its arms around you and says, ‘Hey, we recognize you and we appreciate you and love you’. Our Town Park kids are very proud of him.”
Oakland School for the Arts also expressed pride over Cloud’s achievements in a tribute to the actor on their website posted on Monday afternoon. The school called his death a “tremendous loss.” The statement also noted: “Angus is remembered as a multifaceted and talented artist in Instrumental Music, Digital Media and Production Design who had a huge presence at OSA … We are equally proud of Angus’ artistic accomplishments in his career since graduating.”
Cloud was big brother to twins Molly and Fiona, and son to Lisa Cloud and Conor Hickey. Hickey originally hailed from Ireland, and died there on May 18 after a brief illness. Cloud posted a photo of his father to Instagram on July 14, captioned simply, “miss u breh.”
This story contains additional reporting by Alan Chazaro and Pendarvis Harshaw.
