Hollywood actor and director George Clooney has shared heartbreaking news, confirming the death of his beloved older sister, Adelia “Ada” Zeidler. She was 65 years old.
A Courageous Battle and a Private Life
In an exclusive and emotional statement provided to PEOPLE magazine, Clooney paid tribute to his sister, calling her his “hero.” He revealed that Ada passed away on December 19 following a brave fight against cancer. Her funeral was held the following Monday.
“My sister, Ada, was my hero,” Clooney said. “She faced down cancer with courage and humor. I’ve never met anyone so brave. Amal and I will miss her terribly.”
Although she largely stayed out of the public eye, Ada made a special appearance at her brother’s high-profile wedding to human rights lawyer Amal Clooney in Venice, Italy, in September 2014.
Remembering Ada: The Artist, Teacher, and Sister
According to an obituary obtained by PEOPLE, Ada died “peacefully, surrounded by the people she loved” at Saint Elizabeth Healthcare in Edgewood, Kentucky. She was a talented artist who shared her passion for many years as a school art teacher.
Her obituary highlighted her academic prowess, noting she was a National Merit Scholar in high school. A lover of literature, she connected with others through a local book club. Ada was also an active community member, belonging to the Augusta Art Guild and having served as a past grand marshal of Augusta’s Annual White Christmas Parade.
In a 2012 interview with the New York Daily News, Ada spoke warmly about her brother’s potential as a husband, long before he met Amal. “If he was going to get married, he would want to be a husband and be somebody who would be there,” she said, “Who would have the time and the ability to focus on the family and the home and all of that.”
She also shared a relatable, down-to-earth detail about their relationship, explaining she didn’t keep her famous brother’s phone number in her contacts. “I wouldn’t want to have it in my phone and then lose my phone,” she said, preferring email for their communications.
A Family's Loss
Ada’s life was also marked by earlier loss. She married Norman Zeidler, a retired army captain, in Augusta, Kentucky, in March 1987. He sadly passed away from a heart attack in October 2004.
She is survived by her two children, Nick Zeidler and Allison Zeidler Herolaga, and Allison’s husband, Kenny. She also leaves behind her parents, her brother George Clooney and his wife Amal, and several extended family members.
The news has cast a shadow over the Clooney family as they remember a woman celebrated for her strength, creativity, and private, loving nature.
