American actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, best known for his iconic role as Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show, has died at the age of 54 after drowning while on vacation in Costa Rica.
According to Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Agency, Warner was caught in a strong ocean current while swimming at Playa Grande in Cocles, Limón Province, around 2:00 PM local time on Sunday. Though bystanders pulled him from the water and the Costa Rican Red Cross attempted resuscitation, Warner was pronounced dead at the scene.
Warner rose to national fame as the teenage son of Bill Cosby on The Cosby Show, which aired from 1984 to 1992 and dominated television ratings during its peak. He was just 14 when he was cast on the final day of auditions. His performance earned him a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 1986.
The sitcom, which portrayed an upper-middle-class Black American family, was praised for redefining television narratives at the time. Warner reflected in a 2013 interview: “When the show first came out, there were white people and black people talking about [how] the Huxtables don’t really exist… Meanwhile, we were getting tens of thousands of fan letters from people saying, ‘Thank you so much for this show.’”
After The Cosby Show, Warner starred in the sitcom Malcolm & Eddie and made appearances on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Sesame Street, and The Resident, where he played cardiothoracic surgeon AJ Austin. In recent years, he used his voice in spoken word, earning a Grammy nomination in 2023 for his album Hiding In Plain View. He previously won a Grammy in 2015 for Best Traditional R&B Performance alongside Robert Glasper and Lalah Hathaway.
Warner was also active in mental health advocacy, especially within the Black community. In 2023, he launched the podcast Not All Hood, focusing on Black mental wellness.
News of his sudden passing has shocked fans and colleagues across generations.
Fellow entertainers and public figures paid heartfelt tributes. Actress Taraji P. Henson wrote: “Malcolm, we grew up with you. Thank you for the art, the wisdom, the grace you gave us! Rest easy, king!!!! Your legacy lives far beyond the screen.”
Actor and comedian Eddie Griffin, Warner’s co-star on Malcolm & Eddie, simply posted: “R.I.P. King. My big little brother.”
Actor Jacob Latimore who plays Emmett in the The Chi Tv show, posted on his Facebook page A terrible loss. Glad I got the opportunity to meet and work with you on screen man , RIP to the great and multitalented actor, musician, and poet Malcom Jamal Warner
Musician Questlove, actresses Jennifer Hudson, Tracee Ellis Ross, Vivica A. Fox, and Jennifer Love Hewitt all shared their sadness, calling Warner “a gentleman,” “an incredible talent,” and “deeply kind.”
Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock tweeted: “For me and so many in my generation, Malcolm-Jamal Warner was a part of our childhood… May God grant peace to his soul, strength and grace to his grieving family.”
Basketball icon Magic Johnson also mourned Warner, recalling his passion for life, creativity, and their shared advocacy: “He will truly be missed.”
Warner is survived by his wife and daughter.
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