Malcolm-Jamal Warner, widely recognised for his portrayal of Theo Huxtable on the hit American sitcom The Cosby Show, has died aged 54.
According to local authorities in Costa Rica, Warner drowned over the weekend while vacationing in the coastal town of Cocles, in the Limón Province. The country’s Judicial Investigation Agency reported that the actor was swept out to sea by a strong current while swimming at Playa Grande around 2:00 p.m. local time (20:00 GMT) on Sunday.
Efforts were made to save him. Bystanders reportedly pulled Warner from the water and brought him to shore, where emergency responders from the Costa Rican Red Cross attempted resuscitation. However, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Warner rose to fame in the 1980s as the quick-witted, endearing Theo Huxtable, the only son of Bill Cosby’s character, in the critically acclaimed sitcom that ran from 1984 to 1992. He earned an Emmy nomination in 1986 for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for the role, which he landed after being selected by Cosby on the final day of a nationwide casting call.
Tributes poured in from across the entertainment industry following news of his death. Musician Questlove, actress Taraji P. Henson, Jennifer Hudson, Jennifer Love Hewitt, and basketball legend Magic Johnson were among those who publicly expressed their condolences and shared memories of the late actor.
Following his breakout role, Warner built a steady television career. He starred opposite Eddie Griffin in the sitcom Malcolm & Eddie, and made guest appearances on popular series such as The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Sesame Street. In more recent years, he earned praise for his role as Dr. AJ Austin, a cardiothoracic surgeon, on the Fox medical drama The Resident.
Beyond acting, Warner was also an accomplished musician and spoken word artist. In 2015, he won a Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance alongside Robert Glasper and Lalah Hathaway for their rendition of Stevie Wonder’s “Jesus Children of America.” He received another Grammy nomination in 2023 for his spoken word album Hiding In Plain View.
Warner is survived by his wife and daughter.
