George Clooney mourns Presley Gerber’s death, calls it “the worst thing”

Clooney, a longtime friend of the Gerber-Crawford family, spoke at the Albies gala, while Santa Monica police treat the 27‑year‑old’s death as a suspected overdose.

By Felo News Desk · Published Mon, 12 Oct 2026 01:00:38 GMT

George Clooney said Presley Gerber’s death was “the worst thing” for the Gerber‑Crawford family while speaking at the Albies awards ceremony on Oct. 9, 2026. The 27‑year‑old son of Rande Gerber and Cindy Crawford died on Sept. 20 at the Resolutions Living sober‑living facility in Santa Monica, and Santa Monica police are investigating the case as a suspected overdose.

What happened

Presley Gerber was found dead on Sept. 20, 2026, at the Resolutions Living facility in Santa Monica, California, a day after checking in, according to a New York Times report cited by Vanity Fair. Police said they are treating the death as a suspected overdose and the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has not released a cause of death pending further testing. The investigation remains ongoing, and the family has not issued a public statement.

What the reports add

DailyTimes.com.pk noted that Clooney co‑founded Casamigos Tequila with Rande Gerber in 2013 and that his remarks were his first public comments on the tragedy.
Vanity Fair reported that Clooney and his wife Amal have been spending extensive time with the Gerber‑Crawford family in Los Angeles to help with arrangements, citing a source close to the family.
Both outlets highlighted Kaia Gerber’s earlier public discussion of her brother’s decade‑long addiction struggle, including her August Vogue interview.

What was said

“Quite honestly, it’s one of the most devastating things that’s happened to our family,” Clooney told Entertainment Tonight, as reported by DailyTimes.com.pk.

“It’s the worst thing that could ever happen with family,” Clooney added, DailyTimes.com.pk.

“As you can imagine, it’s the worst thing that could ever happen to a family,” Clooney said, quoted by Vanity Fair.

When asked by an Entertainment Weekly reporter if the family had plans to honor Presley’s legacy, Clooney replied, “I don’t think it’s… we’re even in the position of being able to talk about it,” before continuing, “Quite honestly, it’s one of the most devastating things that’s happened to our family, and their family is just….”

How it came about

Presley Gerber’s struggle with addiction was public, including a March Instagram video in which he described undergoing an “ibogaine flood dose” experimental treatment. His sister Kaia had spoken about his decade‑long battle in a Vogue interview the month before his death. Police investigations into his death as a suspected overdose were reported on Sept. 22. Clooney’s remarks were made at the fifth Albies gala, held on Oct. 9, 2026 at London’s Natural History Museum, an event that highlighted human‑rights defenders such as Kyrgyz journalists Bolot Temirov and Makhabat Tazhibek Kyzy, activist Vanessa Mwangala, and photojournalist Lynsey Addario.

Key facts

Presley Gerber died on Sept. 20, 2026 at a sober‑living facility in Santa Monica. (vanityfair.com)
Santa Monica police are investigating the death as a suspected overdose. (vanityfair.com)
George Clooney described the death as “the worst thing” for the family at the Albies gala. (dailytimes.com.pk)
Clooney co‑founded Casamigos Tequila with Rande Gerber in 2013. (vanityfair.com)

Timeline

2026-09-20 — Presley Gerber dies at Resolutions Living facility in Santa Monica.
2026-09-22 — Felo reports police treating death as suspected overdose.
2026-10-09 — George Clooney speaks at Albies gala, expressing grief.