Actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, best known to a generation of Americans for playing Theo Huxtable on “The Cosby Show,” one of the most iconic television series of the 1980s, died Sunday, July 21, from drowning. While on vacation with his family, officials say, Warner was caught by a strong current near Cocles Beach in Limón, Costa Rica. Police discovered Warner’s body on Sunday afternoon.
The cause of death was asphyxia, a condition caused by a lack of oxygen in the body. Warner was 54 years old.
Authorities have not released additional details surrounding the incident.
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Career began with an iconic sitcom
Warner rose to fame in the 1980s playing Theo, the youngest son on the groundbreaking NBC sitcom “The Cosby Show.” He appeared in all eight seasons of the show from 1984 to 1992 and earned an Emmy nomination in 1986 for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.
While “The Cosby Show” later faced public scrutiny because of numerous sexual assault allegations against Bill Cosby, Warner has maintained pride in the show’s cultural significance.
“Regardless of how some people may feel about the show now, I’m still proud of the legacy and having been a part of such an iconic show that had such a profound impact on — first and foremost, Black culture — but also American culture,” he told People in 2023.
After “The Cosby Show,” Warner starred in “Malcolm & Eddie” and BET’s “Reed Between the Lines.” He most recently played Dr. AJ Austin on five of six seasons of Fox’s medical drama “The Resident.”
He also hosted a podcast, “Not All Hood,” which released its most recent episode last week, according to TMZ.
Though Warner kept his personal life mostly out of the spotlight, he recently opened up during an appearance on actress Melyssa Ford’s podcast. He shared details about his wife of 10 years and their child.
“I wasn’t sure if I would ever get married or have kids,” he told Ford. That all changed when he met his wife.
Tributes pour in
Warner’s friends and co-stars took to social media to honor his memory and impact.
Actress Niecy Nash, who worked with Warner on “American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson,” posted an emotional message on Instagram.
“My God 💔 we just spoke. You were giving [me] my flowers for my work in @grotesqueriefx and we talked about how happy we both were in our marriages.”
Actor Morris Chestnut, Warner’s colleague from “The Resident,” also shared a heartfelt tribute:
“Heartbroken to hear about the passing of Malcolm-Jamal Warner. Working alongside him on The Resident was an honor. He brought so much depth, warmth, and wisdom to every scene and every conversation. One of the nicest in the business. Rest easy, brother. Your legacy lives on.”
Actress and influencer Tabitha Brown reflected on what Warner meant to fans of “The Cosby Show” and the era:
“This one hurts🥹…. @malcolmjamalwar was literally the brother I never had in my head growing up! I mean the entire Cosby family was all our family in the 80s, but Theo was the only son, the only brother and he was brilliant! Rest easy 🙏🏾🥹 May we all love each other a little more today❤️ #spreadlove”
