The Alameda County Coroner’s Office said Thursday that Oakland actor Angus Cloud died July 31 from a lethal combination of fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine and other substances, in what’s been ruled an accidental overdose.
According to the coroner’s office, the 25-year-old “Euphoria” star suffered “acute intoxication” from the combination of drugs, which also included benzodiazepine.
This conclusion lines up with the assertion of Cloud’s mother, Lisa Cloud, who disputed early reports that he could have died by suicide. “He did not intend to end his life,” she said in a Facebook post, shared six days after her son’s death in the family’s Oakland home.
Following Cloud’s death, the family acknowledged that he had “intensely struggled” with the May 18 death of his father, Conor Hickey, from an aggressive form of cancer. The family also said the up-and-coming TV and film actor had been open about his mental health struggles. Meanwhile, friends and Cloud’s former manager revealed that he had dealt with a serious drug addiction that in recent years led to at least one stint in rehab and multiple relapses and efforts to stay sober.
In her Facebook post, Lisa Cloud acknowledged that her son’s “struggles were real” and that he had recently moved back home. She also described the last time she saw him alive.
“When we hugged goodnight we said how much we loved each other and he said he would see me in the morning,” Cloud said. “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 next morning at 11:30 a.m., a woman believed to be Cloud’s mother called 911 to report a “possible overdose” and said her son didn’t have a pulse. Oakland police said Cloud was pronounced dead at the scene.
The death of the actor and model sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry and his native Oakland. The graduate of the Oakland School for the Arts was known as a multi-talented young performer, as well as an avid skater and a strong supporter of his hometown and its community of actors, musicians and artists.
Cloud became a global star, playing Fez, a kind-hearted drug dealer in “Euphoria,” HBO’s hit series about teenagers dealing with drug addiction and other issues. Lisa Cloud said her son “gave and received so much love and support to and from his tribe.” She said said, “His work in ‘Euphoria’ became a lightning rod for his generation and opened up a conversation about compassion, loyalty, acceptance and love.”
In her note, the grieving mother 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. The actor revealed in a 2022 interview that he suffered a broken skull and 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.”