What happened to Fezco? ‘Euphoria’ 3 Episode 1 reveals Angus Cloud's character’s fate after his death
HBO’s highly anticipated ‘Euphoria’ Season 3 premiered on April 12, 2026. The series returned after a four-year hiatus, during which one of the actors, Angus Cloud, who played Fezco, died in July 2023. However, as a tribute to the actor, the character he played is kept alive in the storyline. He is mentioned in a conversation between Rue (played by Zendaya) and Lexi (played by Maude Apatow) in Episode 1, allowing his character to live on even though he doesn’t appear on screen.
‘Euphoria’ Season 3 Episode 1 starts with a five-year time jump for all the lead characters. Lexi, Fezco’s former love interest on the show, has a chat with Rue, who reveals he is in prison serving a 30-year sentence. Rue tells Lexi she should call Fezco and check in on him. She tells Lexi that he misses her, but Lexi says she has been busy with work. “I don’t know, my hours and his hours don’t really line up, so it’s hard.” However, Rue insists, "Just pick up the phone and call him. It’s not like he’s going anywhere. He’s in prison for 30 years." The arrest is presumed to have occurred after Season 2 ended with him being surrounded by police in a raid. Additionally, his adopted brother Ashtray (played by Javon Walton) was shot dead in the heartbreaking finale.
As for Cloud, he died due to an accidental overdose in real life. His demise deeply affected the show's creator, Sam Levinson. “With addiction, you’re supposed to be prepared for the loss of someone struggling, but his death stirred an anger - not only for him, but for the many young lives in America cut short by fentanyl,” he said, as per Entertainment Weekly. As a result, ‘Euphoria’ Season 3 became a way of honoring Cloud and “all the kids who weren’t offered a second chance.” The creator added that he wanted to tell a story where “hope and light could still be felt in the darkness.” The show also paid tribute to the actor on Instagram, and wrote, "We are incredibly saddened to learn of the passing of Angus Cloud. He was immensely talented and a beloved part of the HBO and Euphoria family."
Cloud is not the only actor who won't be part of Season 3. Austin Abrams, Barbie Ferreira, and Eric Dane also won't appear in the ongoing installment of the teen drama. Dane died in February 2026 after filming his scenes. ‘Euphoria’ Season 3’s premiere episode ended with an 'in memoriam' segment that paid tribute to Cloud, Dane, and executive producer Kevin Turen.
