The Euphoria family will forever keep alive the memory of Eric Dane and Angus Cloud. The third and presumed final season of the Sam Levinson-led HBO drama premiered on April 12, two months after Eric's untimely passing at the age of 53, following a battle with ALS. At the episode's opening, a title card featuring a photo of the Grey's Anatomy alum appeared on screen, bearing the words, "In remembrance of Eric Dane."
At the end of the episode, the series once again paid tribute to those it had lost. In addition to Eric, an "In Memoriam" screen included the names of executive producer Kevin Turen and Angus, who played Fezco on the series, both of whom passed away unexpectedly in 2023.
Eric was diagnosed with ALS less than a year before filming began on Euphoria's third season. However, to ensure that the actor could still be included as Cal Jacobs (the father of Jacob Elordi's Nate Jacobs), Sam collaborated with Eric to work around the symptoms of his disease and shot his scenes in just one day.
"Eric called me before we started shooting and told me that he had been diagnosed with ALS," Sam told Extra ahead of the season premiere. "We had many conversations about life and what it meant. I loved him very deeply, and I said, 'Eric, whatever shape you show up in, we'll make it work. I have faith that it'll all work out.' "He showed up, and I could tell he had a slight slur in his voice," Sam continued. "I said, 'Don't worry. We'll just put like five beer bottles in front of you and say you've been drinking all night.' He was like, 'Perfect, perfect.' And his character was such a gift."
Indeed, the season three trailer shows Cal attending Nate's wedding to Cassie (Sydney Sweeney). This role will mark Eric's final on-screen appearance.
As for Angus, who died of an accidental drug overdose in 2023 at the age of 25, the fate of his character Fezco had been left uncertain after a SWAT team raided his home, killing his brother and severely wounding him before arresting him. However, Sam made the decision to keep Fezco alive on the HBO drama, with Rue (Zendaya) telling Fez's former love interest Lexi (Maude Apatow) in the season premiere that the troubled drug dealer is alive but incarcerated, serving a 30-year sentence.
For Sam, he wanted to give Angus' character the chance to live the life that the actor - who had been candid about his struggles with addiction - hadn't been able to have in real life. "I fought very hard to keep him clean when he was alive, and losing him was really tough," the showrunner told Entertainment Weekly in an interview published on April 12. "I felt like if I couldn't keep him alive in life, then I could in the show."
In an additional statement shared with the outlet, Sam shared further insight into how Angus' passing "deeply affected" him. "With addiction, you're supposed to be prepared for the loss of someone struggling," he wrote. "But his death stirred an anger - not only for him but for the many young lives in America cut short by fentanyl. This season became my way to honor Angus and all the kids who weren't offered a second chance. I wanted to tell a story where hope and light could still be felt in the darkness."
