Late Euphoria stars Eric Dane and Angus Cloud are honored by series creator Sam Levinson at season three premiere

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At the Los Angeles premiere of Euphoria’s third season on Tuesday, creator Sam Levinson honored both Angus Cloud and Eric Dane.

The filmmaker, age 41, spoke to the audience at TCL Chinese Theatre for about five minutes, remembering both Cloud, who passed away in 2023 at 25, and Dane, who died in February at 53.

Cloud starred as the drug dealer Fez in the series, while Dane played troubled dad Cal Jacobs.

According to a video from Deadline, Levinson explained the gap between seasons two and three stemmed from several issues, but the biggest challenge was finding a way to honor those who had passed away.

He ultimately dedicated the third and final season to Cloud, Dane, and producer Kevin Turen.

He quoted a saying from the late Orthodox rabbi, known as the Rebbe: “You can only truly appreciate the light after experiencing darkness.” He then added that he was glad to have overcome a difficult period and was now feeling positive.

It was a difficult time when Angus passed away. I loved him very much and did everything I could to help him stay sober, he said, referring to the star who died from a drug overdose.

Levinson also thought about how acknowledging death actually makes life more meaningful. He believed it prevents us from taking life for granted and reminds us that it’s a precious and wonderful thing.

Just weeks after Dane’s death, he told People magazine he was deeply saddened by the loss of his friend, Eric.

It was a privilege to work with him, and I truly cherished our friendship. We are thinking of Eric’s family during this difficult time, and we hope his memory brings comfort to everyone who knew him.

HBO expressed their sadness upon hearing of Eric Dane’s death, stating they were deeply saddened by the news.

He was a remarkably gifted actor, and we at HBO were lucky to have collaborated with him on three seasons of Euphoria. We extend our deepest sympathies to his family and friends.

Even though Dane was diagnosed with ALS, he finished filming season three of the popular TV show before passing away on February 19th.

Besides season three of Euphoria, Dane will also be seen in the thriller Family Secrets, released after his passing. He portrays a rich family leader in the film.

At the Los Angeles premiere of Euphoria Season 3, creator Sam Levinson introduced the new season and dedicated it to those the show had lost, specifically mentioning actors Angus Cloud and Eric Dane, as well as producer Kevin Turen.

— Deadline (@DEADLINE) April 8, 2026

The final season of Euphoria jumps forward five years, showing what happened to the characters after their high school days, which were depicted when the show first premiered in 2019.

At an HBO event in London last year, creator Levinson explained the five-year time jump by saying it felt right because the characters would have likely finished college by then.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the new season starts with Rue in Mexico, owing money to a character named Laurie, and desperately trying to find creative ways to repay her debt.

During an appearance on The Tonight Show in late 2025, Sweeney talked about finishing filming the series in November.

It felt really emotional and complex, because I’d been working with many of the same people since the very beginning of my career, when we filmed the first episode.

The actress explained to Jimmy Fallon that returning felt like coming home and reconnecting with loved ones, saying, ‘They’re truly like family to me.’

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2026-04-09 06:05