'Euphoria' Season 3 Episode 1 pays emotional tribute to Angus Cloud, Eric Dane, and Kevin Turen
'Euphoria' might have been a messy ride on screen, and off-screen, the tragedy continues. The show faced several losses after its sophomore season, which it acknowledged in the premiere episode of the recently released Season 3. The episode ends with a black screen featuring the message “In Memoriam,” honoring actors Eric Dane and Angus Cloud, along with executive producer Kevin Turen. All three recently passed away, and the show honored their contributions with this montage.
Angus Cloud became one of the breakout stars of the show when it premiered back in 2019. For two seasons, he played Fezco, a kindhearted friend to Rue and Lexi, involved in dealing drugs. The Season 2 finale ended with his house being raided by the police and the murder of his adoptive brother, Ashtray. The Season 3 premiere kept his character alive and revealed that Fezco is serving a 30-year sentence behind bars. In Episode 1, Rue tells Lexi to call Fezco, saying, "Just pick up the phone and call him. It’s not like he’s going anywhere. He’s in prison for 30 years." Cloud died in July 2023 due to an accidental overdose. “He was too special, too talented, and way too young to leave us so soon. He also struggled, like many of us, with addiction and depression. I hope he knew how many hearts he touched. I loved him. I always will. Rest in peace, and God bless his family," series creator Sam Levinson shared back then, as per Variety.
Eric Dane, who plays Cal Jacobs, Nate’s father, will also feature in the upcoming season. This will mark the 'Grey's Anatomy' alum's last venture on the small screen. Dane completed shooting for his role in Euphoria's Season 3 before his death on February 19, 2026, due to ALS. Levinson shared that the team already knew about his condition and altered the scenes to allow the actor to perform to the best of his capabilities. Speaking to Extra, Levinson said, “He showed up, and I could tell he had a slight slur in his voice, and he told me that. I said, ‘Don’t worry. We’ll just put, like, five beer bottles in front of you and you’ve been drinking all night.’ He was like, ‘Perfect, perfect.’ And his character, it was such a gift.” The creator also revealed that the actor was part of Nate and Cassie's wedding sequence, a glimpse of which is featured in the trailer. In the Season 2 finale, Nate helped the police catch Cal by providing videos of his illicit actions. Hence, this reunion could be chaotic.
Kevin Turen had been involved with 'Euphoria' since its inception. He died in 2023 due to cardiac issues while driving, according to Variety. Turen frequently collaborated with Levinson and was also involved in 'The Idol.' The EP co-founded Little Lamb Productions alongside Levinson and his wife in 2018. His other credits include 'Assassination Nation' (2018) and 'Malcolm & Marie' (2021). During 'Euphoria's premiere in Hollywood, Levinson dedicated the season to “those who we lost,” according to Cosmopolitan. “Some people ask why it took so long between seasons two and three. There were obvious factors—the strikes, trying to make a schedule work with our very in-demand cast, but the real time was in trying to figure out how to find a way to pay respect to those who we lost,” the creator shared during the introduction. 'Euphoria' will air new episodes every Sunday on HBO and HBO Max.
