Malcolm-Jamal Warner, the actor who warmed America’s hearts as Theo Huxtable in The Cosby Show, has died at the age of 54.
Warner was on holiday with his family in Costa Rica when tragedy struck. According to local police, he drowned while swimming at Playa Grande, a popular beach on the country’s Caribbean coast, around 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. Witnesses told authorities that he was caught in a strong current and pulled into deeper waters. Efforts to save him failed. The Red Cross confirmed his death at the scene.
The actor’s representatives have yet to issue a formal statement. But the news has left fans and former colleagues in deep shock.
Born in New Jersey, Warner began acting at just nine years old. But it was his role as the quick-witted and lovable Theo Huxtable — son of Heathcliff and Claire — that made him a household name. The Cosby Show, which ran from 1984 to 1992, was a cultural milestone. Warner’s performance earned him a Primetime Emmy nomination in 1986.
Bill Cosby, who played his on-screen father, paid tribute to Warner in an interview with CNN affiliate WPVI on Monday.
Al Levine/NBC/Getty Images
“You could always depend on Malcolm,” Cosby said. “He knew his lines, built his character, and came ready every day. I’m heartbroken. My thoughts are with his mother, who was so devoted and proud.”
Warner often spoke of the show’s legacy — especially its role in changing perceptions of Black family life on American television.
“Some people said the Huxtables didn’t reflect real life. But we got thousands of letters thanking us,” Warner said in an earlier interview. “It was the first time many people saw a Black middle-class family represented with honesty and warmth.”
But as the years passed and serious allegations were levelled against Cosby, Warner acknowledged the complications that came with that legacy.
“My greatest sadness,” he told the Associated Press in 2015, “is that we’ve lost The Cosby Show as a counter to all the negative images of Black people in media. The Huxtables are in danger of becoming just a fairy tale.”
Cosby denied the allegations. His 2018 conviction for sexual assault was later overturned.
Despite the challenges, Warner continued to grow — both professionally and personally. He built a career across film, TV, poetry, and music. He won a Grammy Award in 2015 for Jesus Children, a collaboration with the Robert Glasper Experiment. In 2023, he earned another Grammy nod, this time for spoken word poetry.
Alan Singer/NBC/Getty Images
In a 2017 interview with CNN, Warner spoke about becoming a father. “It’s been inspiring. I’ve got new material now,” he laughed. “My daughter was just four months then — I hadn’t even had to tell her ‘no’ yet.”
On screen, Warner remained a steady presence for decades. He starred in hit shows like Touched by an Angel, Sons of Anarchy, Community, Suits, 9-1-1, and The Resident. His performances were often quiet, powerful, and full of depth.
Tracee Ellis Ross, who played Warner’s wife on Reed Between the Lines, said in a heartfelt tribute:
“I love you, Malcolm. You were my first TV husband. Warm, thoughtful, funny, elegant. My heart is so, so sad. You made the world brighter.”
Comedian Eddie Griffin, Warner’s co-star in Malcolm & Eddie, also shared his grief.
“My heart is heavy,” he wrote. “You were a poet, a father, a warrior. We clashed like brothers, but there was always love. Rest well, my big little brother.”
In 2024, Warner launched the podcast Not All Hood, aiming to amplify the diverse experiences of Black Americans.
“We often talk about the Black community as one thing,” he said in an interview with People. “But it’s made up of so many layers — we wanted to dig into all of them.”
That commitment to truth and storytelling never left him. Whether on stage, on camera, or behind a microphone, Warner gave his all — with grace, depth, and fierce honesty.
He is survived by his partner and young daughter.
Warner once said: “We were ready to move on when the show ended. We had said what we could say.”
In many ways, he kept speaking — and living — long after the cameras stopped rolling.
About the Author
