George Clooney's Sister Adelia Zeidler Dies at 65

George Clooney announced the death of his older sister, Adelia "Ada" Zeidler, who passed away at age 65 on December 19 after a battle with cancer. The longtime Augusta, Kentucky, resident died peacefully surrounded by loved ones at St. Elizabeth Healthcare in Edgewood, Kentucky.

"My sister, Ada, was my hero," Clooney, 64, said in a statement to People magazine. "She faced down cancer with courage and humor. I've never met anyone so brave. Amal and I will miss her terribly."

Zeidler, born on May 2, 1960, in Los Angeles to journalist Nick Clooney and writer Nina Bruce Warren, grew up in the small Kentucky town of Augusta alongside her younger brother. The siblings shared a close bond from childhood, often playing games together in their family home. Their mother once recalled coming home to find George, Ada, and friends throwing licked marshmallows that stuck to the walls during an impromptu party.

A talented artist, Zeidler worked for several years as an elementary art teacher at Augusta Independent School. She earned recognition as a National Merit Scholar in high school and remained active in her community, participating in a local book club, serving as a member of the Augusta...