It’s one of those things you can’t unsee. You’re scrolling through Twitter or TikTok, and a side-by-side photo pops up. On one side, you have the wide, soulful eyes and gravelly voice of Angus Cloud, the breakout star of HBO's Euphoria. On the other, the late, legendary Pittsburgh rapper Mac Miller.
The resemblance isn't just a "kind of" thing. It’s uncanny. From the facial structure down to that specific, laid-back energy—what fans call the "vibe"—it felt like they were cut from the same cloth. Because of this, the internet spent years trying to manifest a Mac Miller biopic starring Angus Cloud. People were obsessed with the idea.
But behind the memes and the fan-casting, there’s a much heavier story about respect, tragedy, and why that movie never actually happened. Honestly, it's a story that tells us more about who Angus was as a person than any acting role ever could.
The Biopic Rumors: Why Angus Cloud Said No
Let’s get the facts straight: there was never an official Mac Miller biopic in production. Not one that the family authorized, anyway. While Hollywood is famous for "inspired by" stories, like the controversial film Taurus (which originally had a title referencing Mac’s music before the family spoke out), a legitimate life story wasn't on the table.
Even if it had been, Angus Cloud made his stance very clear. He wasn't interested.
In a 2022 interview with etalk, Angus was asked point-blank about the comparisons. Most young actors would jump at the chance to play a global icon. It’s the kind of role that wins Oscars. But Angus wasn't most actors. He told the interviewer, "I don't think I would be prepared to take on someone's life and legacy and try to replay that."
He didn't see himself as a replacement or a twin. He saw Mac as a "legend" who deserved to rest in peace. To Angus, trying to "become" Mac Miller for a camera felt less like an opportunity and more like a lack of respect.
Why the comparison stuck
It wasn't just the red hair or the beard.
- The "Street" Discovery: Both guys had this incredibly authentic aura. Mac started rapping at 14, basically a kid from Point Breeze who just loved the craft. Angus was literally plucked off a Manhattan street while working at a chicken and waffle joint. Neither of them felt "Hollywood."
- The Voice: That low-register, slightly raspy mumble? It was a signature for both.
- The Vulnerability: Mac was famously open about his mental health in his music, especially on Swimming. Angus brought a similar, unexpected tenderness to Fezco, a character who, on paper, was just a drug dealer but ended up being the heart of Euphoria.
A Shared Tragedy That No One Wanted
The most heartbreaking part of the Angus Cloud and Mac Miller connection isn't the physical resemblance. It’s the way their stories ended.
Mac Miller died on September 7, 2018. He was only 26. The Los Angeles County Coroner later confirmed the cause was an accidental overdose of fentanyl, cocaine, and alcohol. It was a "leak in the system" moment for the music industry—a reminder that even when someone is at their creative peak, they can be struggling in ways we don't see.
Fast forward to July 31, 2023. Angus Cloud was found dead in his family home in Oakland. He was 25.
The parallels were almost too much for fans to handle. Like Mac, Angus died from a "lethal mix" of drugs, including fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine. His death came just one week after he buried his father in Ireland. His mom, Lisa Cloud, has been very vocal about the fact that her son didn't intend to die. She described his last day as "joyful," noting that he was reorganizing his room and talking about the future.
It’s easy to look at these two and see a pattern of "tragic stars." But that’s a bit of a lazy narrative. Both men were more than their struggles. They were artists who were deeply loved by their communities.
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The Reality of the "Doppelgänger" Curse
Living with a famous face isn't always a compliment. While fans meant well, Angus sometimes felt the pressure of being "the guy who looks like Mac."
He once mentioned that while he appreciated the love, he wanted to be seen as his own person. He was Conor Angus Cloud Hickey from Oakland. He was a guy who went to school with Zendaya but spent his time building sets for the theater department instead of acting.
He didn't have "thespian" energy. He had real-world energy.
When you look at his performances in films like North Hollywood or the posthumous Abigail, you see an actor who was just starting to find his own lane. He was leaning into his unique style—subtle, quiet, and deeply human. If he had spent his career trying to be Mac Miller, we might have missed out on the real Angus Cloud.
The Legacy They Left Behind
If there's anything to take away from the link between these two, it's about the fragility of the people we put on pedestals.
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- Mac Miller's musical evolution from "frat rap" to the jazz-infused masterpiece Circles (released posthumously in 2020) proved he was a generational talent.
- Angus Cloud's impact on Euphoria changed how we see "tough" characters. He made Fezco someone you wanted to protect, not someone you feared.
What People Get Wrong About the Biopic
There's a common misconception that the Miller family "blocked" Angus from the role. That's not true.
The family has generally been very protective of Mac's image—and rightly so. They haven't authorized any biopic. Mac’s brother, Miller McCormick, has even spoken out against projects that felt like they were capitalizing on Mac’s death.
Angus respected that. He knew that some stories are too big, or too raw, to be told for entertainment. He chose to stay in his lane, and in doing so, he maintained his integrity.
How to Honor Their Memory Today
Instead of wishing for a movie that would probably struggle to capture the magic of either man, there are better ways to engage with their work.
If you're a fan of Angus, go back and watch his scenes in Euphoria Season 2. Notice how much he does with just his eyes. He wasn't "acting" like a drug dealer; he was playing a human being trying to survive.
If you're diving into Mac's catalog, start with Swimming and then move to Circles. It’s a literal conversation between life and the afterlife.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Support Mental Health and Recovery: Both families have pointed toward organizations that help those struggling with substance use. Supporting the Mac Miller Fund is a great way to give back to the Pittsburgh arts community he loved.
- Acknowledge Their Individuality: Stop calling Angus "the Mac Miller lookalike." Start calling him a talented actor who left us too soon.
- Watch Their Final Projects: Angus has several posthumous roles, including the film Freaky Tales. It’s a chance to see him outside of the Fezco persona.
The connection between Angus Cloud and Mac Miller will always be a point of fascination. It's a "glitch in the matrix" that two such similar, beautiful souls appeared and vanished so quickly. But the real story isn't that they looked alike. It's that they both possessed a rare kind of kindness that the world wasn't quite ready to lose.
Check out the Mac Miller Fund's official site to see how they're providing resources for young musicians in underserved communities.