George Clooney has spoken about the death of his sister Adelia “Ada” Zeidler, recalling how he held her hand as she died after a battle with cancer.
The actor and director was speaking at a masterclass at the Venice Film Festival, where he was honoured with the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement, when he described his sister’s final moments.
“She died very quickly, and I was with her when she died,” Clooney said.
He added: “There was this feeling, being with her, holding her hand when she died, understanding how brief all of this is.
“It was minutes ago that she and I were little kids together; minutes ago we were holding hands as little kids.”
Clooney said the experience had reinforced the importance of making the most of life. “Time goes fast. All of this. And so we have to find nothing but joy,” he said.
Ada died aged 65 on December 19, 2025, at St Elizabeth Healthcare in Kentucky, according to her obituary. It said she died peacefully surrounded by the people she loved.
Her funeral was held three days later at St Patrick Catholic Church in Maysville.
Clooney had previously described Ada as his “hero” in a statement released after her death. “She faced down cancer with courage and humour. I’ve never met anyone so brave. Amal and I will miss her terribly,” he said.
Ada, who was born in Los Angeles on May 2, 1960, largely lived outside the public eye. She was nevertheless seen alongside her brother in Venice in 2014, when the pair travelled through the city’s canals during the celebrations surrounding his wedding to Amal Clooney.
The siblings were raised in Kentucky in a showbusiness family. Their father, Nick Clooney, was a radio host and liberal activist, while their aunt was the celebrated jazz singer and actress Rosemary Clooney.
Speaking in 2015, George Clooney said he was “very close to” his sister and joked about her children, including her son Nick, who had been named prom king at the high school the actor himself attended.
Ada married retired army captain Norman Zeidler in 1987 and had two children. He died of a heart attack in October 2004.
The Venice Film Festival confirmed that Clooney’s masterclass took place on September 3 as part of the 2026 programme, following the presentation of his lifetime achievement award. ([labiennale.org](https://www.labiennale.org/en/news/george-clooney-golden-lion-lifetime-achievement?utm_source=openai))
