George Clooney is mourning the loss of his older sister, Adelia “Ada” Zeidler, who passed away on Friday at the age of 65. In a heartfelt statement to People, the actor described his sister as his “hero,” praising the immense bravery and humor she showed during her battle with cancer. He noted that both he and his wife, Amal, are devastated by the loss.
Born in Los Angeles in 1960, Zeidler spent much of her life in Augusta, Kentucky, where she and George grew up. According to her obituary, she passed away peacefully in a medical facility, surrounded by her family. She was a former elementary school art teacher and a dedicated reader who had been a National Merit Scholar in high school.
Zeidler is survived by her parents, Nick and Nina Clooney; her children, Nick and Allison; her husband, Kenny; and her brother and sister-in-law. She was predeceased by her husband of many years, Norman Zeidler, who died in 2004.
Although she preferred to stay out of the spotlight, Zeidler remained very close to her famous brother. She attended his 2014 wedding in Venice and once told reporters that she chose not to keep his phone number saved in her phone to protect his privacy, opting to communicate via email and occasional calls instead. George frequently spoke of their tight bond in interviews, calling her the bravest person he had ever known. A memorial service in her honor is scheduled for Monday.