George Clooney rushed to Rande Gerber and Cindy Crawford’s side days after their only son, Presley Gerber, died of a “suspected overdose.”
The “Ocean’s Eleven” actor and wife Amal Clooney were spotted arriving Tuesday at Kaia Gerber’s home in Los Angeles, Calif.
Clooney, 65, a longtime friend of the family, who also launched multiple businesses with Rande, was reportedly referred to as “Uncle George” by the Gerber kids.
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“George would spend hours talking to Presley,” a source told the Daily Mail. “George is the nicest guy in the world and would do anything to help Rande’s family.”
“Especially after Presley got a DUI (in 2018), George would advise, ‘Don’t do that, it’s not smart. Be careful.’ More recently, George shared loving notes like, ‘I am here for you,’ that kind of stuff.”
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The source noted that Clooney was “close” with Presley, who he considered “more than just a friend’s kid; they had a bond.”
The “Good Night, and Good Luck” actor will now reportedly focus on how he can best support his friend’s family.
“He feels absolutely awful for Rande and the entire family, and he wants them to know that he is there for them in any way, shape or form,” the insider said.
“George has always been the person people turn to when they’re going through something, and with something of this magnitude, that isn’t going to change.”
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They added, “It doesn’t matter how busy he is or what he has going on in his own life — if Rande or anyone in the family needs him, everything else stops. It’s really that simple. That’s what family does.”
Rande became a prominent figure in the hospitality industry years ago through his Gerber Group, which operated bars, lounges and restaurants in hotels and entertainment venues around the world.
Rande later joined forces with Clooney and real estate developer Mike Meldman to create Casamigos tequila. The brand began as a private venture among friends before becoming a major spirits company.
Rande’s friendship and business partnership with Clooney also connected the two families. Cindy and Rande built a home next door to Clooney’s property in Los Cabos, Mexico, with the two residences designed as neighboring villas.
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Years ago, Rande confirmed a longtime rumor that Clooney once gifted 14 friends $1 million each, and also paid their taxes for a year.
“There’s a group of guys that we call ‘The Boys.’ George had called me and ‘The Boys’ and said, ‘Hey, mark September 27, 2013 on your calendar. Everyone’s going to come to my house for dinner,” Gerber recalled.
Gerber said he and “The Boys” arrived at Clooney’s home to find black designer luggage bags at each place setting on the table. When they opened the bags, they found “a million dollars in 20 dollar bills,” E! News reported.
“George begins to say, ‘Listen, I want you guys to know how much you’ve meant to me and how much you mean to me in my life,’” Rande recalled. “‘I came to L.A., I slept on your couch. I’m so fortunate in my life to have all of you and I couldn’t be where I am today without all of you. So, it was really important to me that while we’re still all here together, that I give back. So I want you all to open your suitcases.'”
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Gerber added, “Every one of us – 14 of us – got a million dollars. Every single one of us. We’re in shock.”
“He goes, ‘I know we’ve all been through some hard times, some of you are still going through it. You don’t have to worry about your kids, you don’t have to worry about, you know, school, you don’t have to worry about paying your mortgage,'” he added.
Gerber said some of their friends were going through a difficult time, including one who was working at a Texas airport’s bar trying to make ends meet for his family.
Gerber recalled pulling Clooney aside and refusing to take the generous gift, but Clooney then replied: “I’m just going to make one announcement. If Rande doesn’t take the million dollars, nobody gets it.”
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Gerber took the money and donated it to charity. “This is who George is. That was September 27th, 2013. Now September 27th, 2014, he marries Amal. Now that’s good karma right there,” Gerber said.
Shortly after the Clooneys welcomed their twins in 2017, George and Rande sold their Casamigos tequila brand for $1 billion to British beverage giant Diageo. The pair, along with partner Mike Meldman, created the brand in 2013.
Diageo said it will pay $700 million for Casamigos at first, and then pay another $300 million over 10 years if the brand reaches certain performance milestones.
“If you asked us four years ago if we had a billion dollar company, I don’t think we would have said yes,” Clooney said in a statement to Fox News.
“This reflects Diageo’s belief in our company and our belief in Diageo. We’ll still be very much a part of Casamigos. Starting with a shot tonight. Maybe two.”
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During a recent appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” Kaia Gerber reflected on her bond with the “One Fine Day” actor.
“It’s so annoying, but I do call him Uncle George,” the supermodel admitted before revealing she used to be on the receiving end of his world-famous gags.
“Yes, they’re infamous pranks, but yes I was,” Kaia said. “There was a rubber snake that sort of circulated, that was getting passed back and forth, and it got me every single time.”
She confessed that it was “impossible” to retaliate against Clooney as he is always dedicated to his craft.
“You can’t,” she said. “His pranks will last years. He’ll spend years just so that he can get you. And I just don’t have the patience for that… He’s the busiest man ever, and yet he finds years to spend conducting these very elaborate pranks.”
Clooney was once on hand to watch Kaia during a community theater performance of “Beauty and the Beast,” and she said he could be heard “laughing the whole time” in a video recording.
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“All you can hear in this recording is George’s specific and very identifiable laugh,” she said, before adding, “I’m choosing that he was being supportive.”
Presley died Sunday, Sept. 20 at a rehabilitation facility in Santa Monica, according to records from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.
Gerber reportedly checked into the facility on Saturday night and died Sunday morning. Representatives for Resolutions Living did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
The deputy medical examiner (DME) told Fox News Digital that “the investigation is still ongoing and there is limited information available,” and his cause of death has not yet been released.
Santa Monica Police Department officials are investigating the death as “a suspected overdose,” according to a release from the department.
A representative for the family told Fox News Digital, “The family is asking for privacy during this very difficult and painful time.”
