George Clooney spent years sending private messages of support to Presley Gerber and counseling the young model about substance abuse, efforts that ended when Gerber died of a suspected overdose at a Santa Monica rehab facility last Sunday.
Gerber, the 27-year-old son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber, died at the Resolutions Living facility in Santa Monica, California, just one day after checking in, Fox News reported. The Santa Monica Police Department is investigating the death as a suspected overdose, with no indication of foul play. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has deferred the official cause of death pending additional testing that could take several months.
Clooney, 65, who co-founded the Casamigos tequila brand with Rande Gerber and has long been considered the elder Gerber's closest friend, reportedly took a personal interest in Presley's well-being that went far beyond casual family friendship. Presley and his sister Kaia, 25, called the actor "Uncle George."
Unnamed sources close to the Clooney family told Page Six that the actor spent hours in conversation with Presley over the years, particularly after the young model received a DUI in 2018. One source described Clooney's advice after that incident:
"Don't do that, it's not smart. Be careful."
More recently, Clooney sent what sources described as "loving notes," including the message "I am here for you." His consistent refrain, sources said, was simple: stay clean.
An insider close to Clooney told the Daily Mail that the actor's counsel came from a place of personal experience. The source said Clooney was never addicted to drugs but had tried them and understood their pull, which allowed him to speak candidly with Presley in a way the younger man could relate to.
A source close to Clooney's wife, Amal, put the relationship in broader terms: "Presley was more than just a friend's kid. They had a bond."
Presley Gerber entered the Resolutions Living facility just days before he died. A source told Page Six that "he knew he needed help." But another source said Gerber "did not appear sober" when he arrived at the $7.7 million facility.
Fox News reported that Gerber checked in on Saturday, September 19, and died the following day. Medical experts cautioned against drawing premature conclusions about the cause of death, noting that possible causes could include cardiac events, medication complications, or withdrawal, not only an overdose from illicit substances.
Nicholas Kardaris, a psychologist and CEO of the New York Center for Living, offered a blunt assessment of the risks inside treatment centers:
"People are in rehab because they're struggling with addiction. It doesn't mean they're cured of their addiction."
Sources described Gerber as someone who had long struggled with depression, anxiety, and a deep lack of self-confidence. One insider said he had "trouble accepting his real self and feeling fully confident in who he was as a person." Another put it more starkly: "Presley was living a nightmare."
The Gerber family, Cindy Crawford, 60, and Rande Gerber, 64, issued a joint statement asking for "privacy during this very difficult and painful time." Page Six reached out to Clooney's representatives and did not hear back.
Model Josie Canseco, a friend of Gerber's from the fashion world, posted a public tribute after his death. Canseco wrote: "Love you Pres. Doesn't feel real.. you deserved better than this, I'm so sorry it all got to this point.. we'll miss you forever."
Insiders close to Clooney described the actor as devastated. One source said: "George is sick over this because Rande is his best friend and everyone felt for Presley." Another added that while Clooney knew about Presley's struggles, the death still hit like a freight train: "While you can't say something like this was completely unimaginable, that doesn't make it any less shocking or devastating."
A third source insisted there was no blame circulating within the family's inner circle. "There is no anger or shame, just deep sadness," the insider said. "Presley had a real problem with depression and anxiety. No one can fault him for that."
Several facts remain unresolved. The Medical Examiner has not issued a final determination on cause of death. No specific substances have been publicly identified in connection with the suspected overdose. Whether Gerber was under direct supervision at the time of his death, and the exact circumstances inside the facility, have not been disclosed. The Santa Monica Police Department continues to lead the investigation.
Presley Gerber was 27 years old, the same age that has claimed too many young lives lost to addiction. All the money, all the connections, and all the private counsel in the world could not outrun the grip of what his own family's friends called a nightmare. That fact alone should keep the rest of us humble about how hard this fight really is.
