Malcolm-Jamal Warner passed away at 54 following an accidental drowning while on vacation in Costa Rica.
The Cosby Show creator Bill Cosby reacted to the shocking news of Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s death at 54 from an accidental drowning.
Warner drowned in Costa Rica during a family vacation on Sunday (July 20), after he was caught in a high tide. His official cause of death has been listed as asphyxiation.
Warner rose to fame playing Theo Huxtable on NBC’s The Cosby Show, a role that made him a household name in the 1980s and earned him an Emmy nomination at just 16.
“He’s devastated and it’s a sad day,” Bill Cosby spokesperson Andrew Wyatt said in a statement.
Wyatt said the impact of Warner’s death on Bill Cosby was similar to when he got the news that his own son, Ennis Cosby Cosby, was killed in a failed robbery attempt.
Born August 18, 1970, in Jersey City, New Jersey, Warner entered the entertainment industry as a teenager. His breakout role as Theo helped define a generation of television and launched a career that spanned more than four decades.
Following The Cosby Show, Warner starred in the UPN sitcom Malcolm & Eddie alongside Eddie Griffin, which ran for four seasons. He later appeared in recurring roles on shows like Community, Suits and The Resident, where he played Dr. AJ Austin.
Beyond acting, Warner built a reputation as a skilled director, helming episodes of The Cosby Show, All That and Malcolm & Eddie. He also pursued music, blending spoken word and jazz into his performances.
In 2015, Warner won a Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B; Performance for his contribution to Robert Glasper’s “Jesus Children” featuring Lalah Hathaway. The song honored the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.
Throughout his career, Warner remained vocal about the importance of representation and creative control. He often used his platform to advocate for Black artists in Hollywood and the music industry.
His final television appearance aired earlier this year, continuing a steady presence on screen that began in the early 1980s.
Warner’s death comes just weeks before what would have been his 55th birthday.