George Clooney’s Sister Ada Zeidler Dies at 65 — The Rare Times She Was Seen in Public

She stayed far from the limelight — but her sudden death has left Hollywood stunned. George Clooney's beloved older sister, Adelia "Ada" Zeidler, has passed away at the age of 65, leaving the Clooney family and their tight-knit Kentucky community devastated.

For decades, Ada shunned the red carpet lifestyle embraced by her younger brother. But in a heartbreaking statement, the Oscar-winning actor shattered the silence around their deep bond — revealing a gut-wrenching loss that fans never saw coming.

'She Was My Hero': George Clooney Breaks Silence on His Sister's Death

George Clooney's emotional tribute pulls back the curtain on a relationship forged far from flashing cameras. "My sister, Ada, was my hero," Clooney said in a statement to PEOPLE. "She faced down cancer with courage and humor. I've never met anyone so brave. Amal and I will miss her terribly."

People confirmed that Ada died on Friday, December 19, 2025, following a private but fierce battle with the illness. She passed peacefully at St. Elizabeth Healthcare in Edgewood, Kentucky, surrounded by loved ones.

A Funeral Mass is scheduled for Monday, December 22, at noon at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Maysville, with Rev. Augustine Aidoo officiating. Ada will be laid to rest privately at St. Patrick Cemetery in Washington, Kentucky.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations have been encouraged to the Knoedler Memorial Library in Augusta — a fitting tribute for a woman who dedicated her life to learning, art, and community.

A Life of Quiet Grace: Teacher, Artist, Mother, Sister

Born on May 2, 1960, in Los Angeles to journalist and TV host Nick Clooney and writer Nina Bruce Warren, Ada was named after her great-grandmother — a matriarchal nod to the family's deep roots.

She may have only made rare public appearances — most notably at George and Amal Clooney's star-studded 2014 wedding in Venice — but behind the scenes, Ada's life was one of rich, enduring impact.

An elementary art teacher at Augusta Independent School, Ada, inspired young minds every day. She studied in Louisville and Northern Kentucky, later becoming a pillar in her town's creative life through the Augusta Art Guild.

Her obituary remembers her as "a talented artist" and respected community figure, even serving as grand marshal of the city's beloved White Christmas Parade.

A brilliant student, she earned National Merit Scholar recognition in high school and remained a devoted reader and book club member into adulthood — passions that reflected a mind as vibrant as her artwork.

'The Whole Town Helped': Ada's Fairytale Wedding to a Hometown Hero

In a moment straight from a heartwarming movie, Ada married retired U.S. Army captain Norman Zeidler on March 14, 1987, in Augusta, Kentucky — a day filled with family, music, and deep hometown pride.

George read scripture at the wedding, and their legendary aunt, singer Rosemary Clooney, serenaded the couple with a romantic ballad. It was a memory that lingered in the hearts of all who witnessed it.

"The whole town helped with the wedding," their mother Nina once recalled. "We couldn't have gotten through it without them."

But tragedy struck years later. Norman died of a heart attack on October 11, 2004 — a loss that left Ada widowed but never broken.

Left Behind: A Family Grieves, a Community Remembers

Ada is survived by her parents, Nick and Nina Clooney; her children, Nick Zeidler and Allison Zeidler Herolaga, and Allison's husband, Kenny; her brother, George, and sister-in-law Amal; and a host of uncles, aunts, and cousins.

Tributes began pouring in online as soon as news of her death broke. One person wrote, "She shines like the beautiful spirit of your Family! Condolences, from one Ky to another. So sorry for your loss Mr Clooney [sic]."

Another commented, "Looks like Rosemary Clooney." In response, one netizen disagreed, stating, "No she doesn't she looks like George [sic]!"

A Bond Forged in Childhood and Shared Values

George has long spoken of the close bond he shared with his sister — a closeness built not just on family ties, but shared convictions.

In a 2015 CBS Mornings interview, Clooney opened up about his deep family connections, "I'm really close to my family... My sister, I'm very close to, and I've got a niece and nephew. My nephew was just made prom king from the high school that I went to, where I was not named."

Their Kentucky upbringing in the turbulent 1960s shaped both siblings. Raised by parents who instilled fierce civic duty and social awareness, the Clooney children were never taught to sit quietly.

"I grew up in a generation where all the people that mattered to us were being murdered, from Martin Luther King to Bobby and Jack Kennedy to Malcolm X and Medgar Evers," George revealed in a 2020 interview with People. "And all these things that counted were going on, with women's rights, civil rights, the anti-Vietnam [war protests]."

"My mother and father were involved, and we were [taught] it is your civic duty... I remember my father saying, 'Don't come back and look me in the eye unless you stand up to [bullies and racists].' I'm glad to have been raised that way," he recounted.

A Quiet Goodbye to a Fiercely Loved Sister

While George Clooney used his platform to speak out on the world stage, Ada poured her heart into local causes, classrooms, and creativity.

Her impact may not have graced red carpets, but it radiates through every life she touched — and every value she shared with her famous brother.

Adelia "Ada" Zeidler may have lived outside the spotlight, but her story — full of courage, love, and purpose — now takes its rightful place in the hearts of all who knew her.