Actor George Clooney spoke publicly Friday about the passing of Presley Gerber, calling the loss of his close friends’ 27-year-old son an overwhelming blow to both families.
Clooney commented on the tragedy during the Albies awards ceremony hosted by the Clooney Foundation for Justice at London’s Natural History Museum, Entertainment Tonight reported. When asked whether there were plans to honor Gerber, Clooney admitted that those closest to him were still struggling to comprehend the loss.
“I don’t think we’re even in the position of being able to talk about it,” Clooney told Entertainment Tonight. “It’s one of the most devastating things that’s happened to our family. And their family is just … as you can imagine, it’s the worst thing that could ever happen to a family.”
Gerber, the son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber, died Sept. 20 at Resolutions Living, a sober-living center in Santa Monica, California, according to county records. Santa Monica Police Department officials confirmed that officers responded to a Berkeley Street residence around 9:35 a.m. following an emergency report of a possible overdose. Gerber was pronounced dead at the scene.
Close Family Connections
Clooney, 65, has maintained deep personal and professional ties with the Gerber family spanning decades. He and Rande Gerber partnered to establish Casamigos Tequila in 2013 before selling the business four years later. The Gerber children grew up closely acquainted with the Oscar-winning actor, reportedly calling him “Uncle George.”
Following the news of Gerber’s death, Clooney and his wife, Amal Clooney, traveled to Los Angeles to assist the family. People reported that close friends organized shifts to stay with Crawford and Gerber so they would not be left alone in their grief. The couple was also seen visiting the Los Angeles home of Gerber’s sister, Kaia Gerber.
Prior Challenges and Ongoing Inquiry
Gerber had previously been candid on social media regarding personal struggles with substance abuse, anxiety and mental health challenges. In previous online posts, he documented trying multiple medical therapies and wellness programs in attempts to regain stability, expressing hope that sharing his journey might assist others facing similar hardships.
According to a death certificate obtained by TMZ, Gerber was cremated at Rose Family Funeral Home, with his occupation recorded as an entrepreneur working in mental health.
While an autopsy has been completed, the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner has placed the official cause of death on hold while toxicology screenings are evaluated. Santa Monica authorities noted that the circumstances surrounding the death remain under investigation.
