George Clooney has offered a deeply personal account of the final moments he shared with his sister, Adelia “Ada” Zeidler, recalling the profound emotions that accompanied her death from cancer at the age of 65.
The actor and filmmaker spoke about Ada while leading a masterclass at the Venice Film Festival, where he was honoured with the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement.
Reflecting on her death, Clooney said he had been beside his sister when she died.
“I Was With Her When She Died”
Clooney recalled how quickly Ada’s condition deteriorated, describing the experience of holding her hand as she took her final breaths.
“She died very quickly, and I was with her when she died,” he said, according to Variety.
The moment prompted the Hollywood star to reflect on how unexpectedly fast life can pass.
Holding his sister’s hand, he said, brought back memories of their childhood and the closeness they had shared from an early age.
“It was minutes ago that she and I were little kids together,” Clooney said, remembering how they had once held hands as children.
A Reflection on the Passage of Time
The loss appeared to leave Clooney contemplating the fleeting nature of life and the importance of making the most of it.
“Time goes fast. All of this. And so we have to find nothing but joy,” he told those attending the Venice masterclass.
His comments offered an unusually intimate glimpse into the family life of an actor whose career has largely unfolded in the public spotlight.
Ada, by contrast, maintained a much quieter existence away from Hollywood.
Nevertheless, she occasionally appeared alongside her famous brother, including during a visit to Venice in 2014 when the siblings were photographed riding together along one of the city’s canals.
Clooney Previously Called Ada His “Hero”
Clooney had previously spoken about his sister after her death, describing her as his “hero” in a statement released shortly after she died.
“She faced down cancer with courage and humor. I’ve never met anyone so brave,” he said at the time, adding that he and his wife, Amal Clooney, would miss Ada terribly.
His latest recollection reinforces the affection and admiration he held for his older sister, particularly as she confronted her illness.
Ada Zeidler’s Final Days
According to her official obituary, Ada died peacefully on December 19, 2025, at a St Elizabeth Healthcare facility in Kentucky.
She was surrounded by people she loved during her final moments.
Her funeral took place three days later at Patrick Catholic Church in Maysville.
Born in Los Angeles on May 2, 1960, Ada was the daughter of Nick and Nina Clooney.
She was just over a year older than George, who was born in May 1961.
Growing Up in a Showbiz Family
The Clooney siblings were raised in a family with strong connections to entertainment and public life.
Their father, Nick Clooney, was a prominent radio host and liberal activist, while their aunt was the celebrated jazz singer Rosemary Clooney, who became widely known for her music career and her role in the classic film White Christmas.
Despite their family’s links to show business, Ada largely avoided the intense public attention that followed her brother’s rise to international stardom.
Childhood Memories Remain
Their mother, Nina, previously shared affectionate memories of George and Ada’s childhood in Kentucky.
In a 2006 interview with HGTV, she recalled coming home from work to find the siblings enjoying themselves with friends and turning ordinary marshmallows into part of an elaborate game.
According to Nina, the children would lick one side of the marshmallows before throwing them at one another, leaving the sweets stuck around the room.
The lighthearted memory stands in striking contrast to Clooney’s emotional recollection decades later, as he remembered the sister with whom he had shared those formative childhood years.
