George Clooney honors late sister at Venice Film Festival

During the 2026 Venice Film Festival, actor George Clooney received the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement and used his acceptance speech to reflect on the death of his sister, Adelia “Ada” Zeidler.

Clooney shared that he was holding Zeidler’s hand when she passed away in December after a rapid battle with cancer. He described the experience as a profound realization of how brief life is, noting that it felt as though they had been children holding hands just minutes prior.

Reflecting on the loss, Clooney urged the audience to actively seek out joy, stating, “You have to seek the joy out. You have to demand it, and you have to make sure that you demand it of yourself.” He also touched upon his career and his wife, Amal Clooney, while emphasizing the importance of finding happiness for oneself, family, and friends.