George Clooney Mourns the Death of His Sister Adelia “Ada” Zeidler at 65: “I’ve Never Met Anyone So Brave”
George Clooney is mourning the loss of his beloved older sister, Adelia “Ada” Zeidler, who has died at the age of 65 after a courageous battle with cancer.
PEOPLE has confirmed that Ada passed away on Friday, December 19, surrounded by loved ones. In an exclusive statement, Clooney shared a deeply personal tribute to the sister he described as his lifelong hero.
“My sister, Ada, was my hero,” Clooney said. “She faced down cancer with courage and humor. I’ve never met anyone so brave. Amal Clooney and I will miss her terribly.”
According to her obituary, Ada died peacefully at St. Elizabeth Healthcare in Edgewood, Kentucky, with family by her side. Though she lived largely outside the public eye, her life was marked by creativity, intellect, and quiet strength.
Born in Los Angeles on May 2, 1960, Ada was the daughter of journalist and television host Nick Clooney and writer Nina Bruce Warren. She was named after her great-grandmother and quickly distinguished herself as a gifted student and artist. In high school, she earned National Merit Scholar recognition, a testament to her academic excellence.
Ada went on to share her passion for creativity as an elementary school art teacher at Augusta Independent School in Kentucky, inspiring young students through her love of visual expression. She was also an active member of the Augusta Art Guild, participated in a local book club, and once served as grand marshal of the town’s Annual White Christmas Parade.
After attending college in Louisville and Northern Kentucky, Ada worked as a bookkeeper while remaining deeply connected to her small-town community. In 1987, she married retired Army Captain Norman Zeidler in a wedding that became a cherished local event. Family members played central roles in the ceremony, including George Clooney, who read scripture, and legendary singer Rosemary Clooney, who performed for the couple.
Tragically, Ada was widowed in 2004 when her husband died of a heart attack. Despite the loss, she continued to live with grace and resilience, values that remained evident throughout her later health struggles.
Although she avoided the spotlight, Ada made a rare public appearance in 2014, attending her brother’s wedding to Amal Clooney in Venice, Italy. Those close to her describe her as warm, thoughtful, and profoundly devoted to family.
Ada is survived by her parents, her children Nick Zeidler and Allison Zeidler Herolaga and her husband Kenny, her brother George Clooney and sister-in-law Amal, as well as extended family members.
A private funeral service will be held on Monday, December 22. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorial donations be made to the Knoedler Memorial Library in Augusta, reflecting Ada’s lifelong love of reading and education.
While George Clooney’s career has unfolded on a global stage, his tribute underscores a more personal truth: that Ada Zeidler’s legacy was defined not by fame, but by courage, kindness, and an enduring impact on the lives she touched.
Her family remembers her not only for how she lived—but for how bravely she faced the end.
