Bill Cosby pays tribute to The Cosby Show co-star Malcolm-Jamal Warner after his tragic death
The actor tragically passed away on Sunday (20.07.25) at the age of 54 after drowning while on holiday in Costa Rica and has been remembered by Cosby as a "great studier" after playing his on-screen son Theodore Huxtable in the TV sitcom that aired from 1984 until 1992.
The 88-year-old star told ABC News: "He was always a great studier, and I enjoyed working with him very much.
"He was very professional. He always knew his part... He always knew his lines, and he always knew where to go."
Cosby - who has faced sexual misconduct allegations from a number of women in recent years and had a sexual assault conviction quashed in 2021 - explained that he and Malcolm remained close when The Cosby Show ended.
He said: "Malcolm calls here regularly."
Warner's cause of death has been confirmed as "asphyxia by submersion" by local authorities in Costa Rica.
The country's Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) explained in a statement that they "removed the body of a man who apparently died as a result of asphyxiation by submersion" who was later identified as the actor - who also starred in Suits and The Resident.
Malcolm "entered the sea and was apparently swept away by a current", according to "preliminary information" reviewed by the OIJ.
The statement continued: "The man was rescued by bystanders and taken to shore, where he received treatment from the Costa Rican Red Cross. However, he was declared lifeless at the scene."
Tributes to Malcolm have poured in from across the showbiz world, with his 9-1-1 co-star Jennifer Love Hewitt stating that the tragedy "hurts my heart".
She wrote on social media: "This hurts my heart. A gentleman, an incredible talent and we were so lucky to have him in the 9-1-1 family. Heartbroken and sending love to his family."
Comedian Sherri Shepherd described Malcolm - who is survived by a wife and daughter whose identities he has kept private - as "one of the most-grounded people I've met in our business" after working with him on the TV series Sherri.
She said: "As someone who grew up on TV, Malcolm remained one of the most-grounded people I've ever met in our business. To know Malcolm was to know a renaissance man that possessed humour, grace, humility and deep cultural appreciation. He was just a good guy!
"His passing is a true loss to the Hollywood community. He was a proud girl dad and loved his daughter so much. To his family, friends and all who loved him - my heart is with you."
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Perth Now
8 hours ago
- Perth Now
Bill Cosby pays tribute to The Cosby Show co-star Malcolm-Jamal Warner after his tragic death
Bill Cosby has paid tribute to his The Cosby Show co-star Malcolm-Jamal Warner. The actor tragically passed away on Sunday (20.07.25) at the age of 54 after drowning while on holiday in Costa Rica and has been remembered by Cosby as a "great studier" after playing his on-screen son Theodore Huxtable in the TV sitcom that aired from 1984 until 1992. The 88-year-old star told ABC News: "He was always a great studier, and I enjoyed working with him very much. "He was very professional. He always knew his part... He always knew his lines, and he always knew where to go." Cosby - who has faced sexual misconduct allegations from a number of women in recent years and had a sexual assault conviction quashed in 2021 - explained that he and Malcolm remained close when The Cosby Show ended. He said: "Malcolm calls here regularly." Warner's cause of death has been confirmed as "asphyxia by submersion" by local authorities in Costa Rica. The country's Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) explained in a statement that they "removed the body of a man who apparently died as a result of asphyxiation by submersion" who was later identified as the actor - who also starred in Suits and The Resident. Malcolm "entered the sea and was apparently swept away by a current", according to "preliminary information" reviewed by the OIJ. The statement continued: "The man was rescued by bystanders and taken to shore, where he received treatment from the Costa Rican Red Cross. However, he was declared lifeless at the scene." Tributes to Malcolm have poured in from across the showbiz world, with his 9-1-1 co-star Jennifer Love Hewitt stating that the tragedy "hurts my heart". She wrote on social media: "This hurts my heart. A gentleman, an incredible talent and we were so lucky to have him in the 9-1-1 family. Heartbroken and sending love to his family." Comedian Sherri Shepherd described Malcolm - who is survived by a wife and daughter whose identities he has kept private - as "one of the most-grounded people I've met in our business" after working with him on the TV series Sherri. She said: "As someone who grew up on TV, Malcolm remained one of the most-grounded people I've ever met in our business. To know Malcolm was to know a renaissance man that possessed humour, grace, humility and deep cultural appreciation. He was just a good guy! "His passing is a true loss to the Hollywood community. He was a proud girl dad and loved his daughter so much. To his family, friends and all who loved him - my heart is with you."
The Advertiser
14 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Cosby Show actor Warner dies in Costa Rica drowning
Malcolm-Jamal Warner, the actor who played teenage son Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show, has died at the age of 54 in an accidental drowning in Costa Rica, local authorities say. Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Department said on Monday that Warner drowned on Sunday afternoon on a beach on the country's Caribbean coast. He was swimming at Playa Grande de Cocles in Limon province when a current pulled him deeper into the ocean. "He was rescued by people on the beach," the department's initial report said but first responders from the Red Cross found him without vital signs and he was taken to the morgue. Warner featured in a pilot-episode argument with Bill Cosby's Cliff Huxtable about money and an ear piercing he tries to hide from his dad. His Theo was the only son among four daughters in the household of Cliff Huxtable and Phylicia Rashad's Clair Huxtable on the NBC sitcom, and he would be one of the prime representations of teenage boyhood on a show that was the most popular in the United States for much of its run from 1984 to 1992. He played the role for eight seasons in all 197 episodes, winning an Emmy nomination for supporting actor in a comedy in 1986. For many the lasting image of the character, and of Warner, is of him wearing a badly botched mock designer shirt sewed by his sister Denise, played by Lisa Bonet. Malcolm-Jamal Warner, the actor who played teenage son Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show, has died at the age of 54 in an accidental drowning in Costa Rica, local authorities say. Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Department said on Monday that Warner drowned on Sunday afternoon on a beach on the country's Caribbean coast. He was swimming at Playa Grande de Cocles in Limon province when a current pulled him deeper into the ocean. "He was rescued by people on the beach," the department's initial report said but first responders from the Red Cross found him without vital signs and he was taken to the morgue. Warner featured in a pilot-episode argument with Bill Cosby's Cliff Huxtable about money and an ear piercing he tries to hide from his dad. His Theo was the only son among four daughters in the household of Cliff Huxtable and Phylicia Rashad's Clair Huxtable on the NBC sitcom, and he would be one of the prime representations of teenage boyhood on a show that was the most popular in the United States for much of its run from 1984 to 1992. He played the role for eight seasons in all 197 episodes, winning an Emmy nomination for supporting actor in a comedy in 1986. For many the lasting image of the character, and of Warner, is of him wearing a badly botched mock designer shirt sewed by his sister Denise, played by Lisa Bonet. Malcolm-Jamal Warner, the actor who played teenage son Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show, has died at the age of 54 in an accidental drowning in Costa Rica, local authorities say. Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Department said on Monday that Warner drowned on Sunday afternoon on a beach on the country's Caribbean coast. He was swimming at Playa Grande de Cocles in Limon province when a current pulled him deeper into the ocean. "He was rescued by people on the beach," the department's initial report said but first responders from the Red Cross found him without vital signs and he was taken to the morgue. Warner featured in a pilot-episode argument with Bill Cosby's Cliff Huxtable about money and an ear piercing he tries to hide from his dad. His Theo was the only son among four daughters in the household of Cliff Huxtable and Phylicia Rashad's Clair Huxtable on the NBC sitcom, and he would be one of the prime representations of teenage boyhood on a show that was the most popular in the United States for much of its run from 1984 to 1992. He played the role for eight seasons in all 197 episodes, winning an Emmy nomination for supporting actor in a comedy in 1986. For many the lasting image of the character, and of Warner, is of him wearing a badly botched mock designer shirt sewed by his sister Denise, played by Lisa Bonet. Malcolm-Jamal Warner, the actor who played teenage son Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show, has died at the age of 54 in an accidental drowning in Costa Rica, local authorities say. Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Department said on Monday that Warner drowned on Sunday afternoon on a beach on the country's Caribbean coast. He was swimming at Playa Grande de Cocles in Limon province when a current pulled him deeper into the ocean. "He was rescued by people on the beach," the department's initial report said but first responders from the Red Cross found him without vital signs and he was taken to the morgue. Warner featured in a pilot-episode argument with Bill Cosby's Cliff Huxtable about money and an ear piercing he tries to hide from his dad. His Theo was the only son among four daughters in the household of Cliff Huxtable and Phylicia Rashad's Clair Huxtable on the NBC sitcom, and he would be one of the prime representations of teenage boyhood on a show that was the most popular in the United States for much of its run from 1984 to 1992. He played the role for eight seasons in all 197 episodes, winning an Emmy nomination for supporting actor in a comedy in 1986. For many the lasting image of the character, and of Warner, is of him wearing a badly botched mock designer shirt sewed by his sister Denise, played by Lisa Bonet.
Sky News AU
15 hours ago
- Sky News AU
‘The Cosby Show' star Malcolm-Jamal Warner dead at 54 from accidental drowning in Costa Rica
'The Cosby Show' star Malcolm-Jamal Warner has died at 54. Warner was in Costa Rica on a family vacation and drowned while swimming near Cocles after allegedly being caught by a high current on Sunday afternoon. The incident occurred between 2 and 2:30 p.m. local time. Costa Rican National Police told The Post that Warner was pulled from the water by people in the area and taken to shore, where the Costa Rica Red Cross tried to revive him but were unsuccessful in their efforts. His body was taken to the morgue at San Joaquin de Flores for an autopsy. The cause of death is listed as asphyxiation by 'submersion.' The Post has reached out to Warner's rep for comment. Warner played Theodore 'Theo' Huxtable, son of Bill Cosby's Cliff Huxtable, on the NBC sitcom from 1984 to 1992. In 2021, Warner exclusively spoke to The Post about the legacy of 'The Cosby Show' following Cosby's sex assault conviction that was later overturned. 'I can understand why some people can't watch the show and enjoy it because of everything that's going on now,' Warner told The Post. 'But I think … there's a generation of young people who have pursued higher education or have started loving families because of the influence of that show.' 'So it's kind of like, you can't discount its impact on television culture and American culture,' he added. Warner was born in Jersey City, N.J., Aug. 18, 1970. He was named after Malcolm X and jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal. His career began as a child performer, and he attended the Professional Children's School in New York City. Warner auditioned for the role of Theo on the last day of the show's nationwide search and was selected by Cosby, per Variety. He starred alongside Cosby, Phylicia Rashad as Clair Huxtable, Sabrina Le Beauf as Sondra Huxtable, Lisa Bonet as Denise Huxtable, Tempestt Bledsoe as Vanessa Huxtable and Keshia Knight Pulliam as Rudy Huxtable. He was nominated for an Emmy Award in 1986, the same year he hosted an episode of 'Saturday Night Live.' After 'The Cosby Show,' Warner starred in the UPN sitcom 'Malcolm & Eddie' alongside Eddie Griffin from 1996 to 2000, followed by the BET sitcom 'Reed Between the Lines' from 2011 to 2015. Warner's other notable acting credits included 'Here and Now,' 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,' 'Jeremiah,' 'Listen Up,' 'Community,' 'Sons of Anarchy,' 'American Horror Story: Freak Show,' 'American Crime Story,' 'Suits' and '9-1-1.' From 2018 to 2023, Warner played Dr. AJ Austin on 'The Resident.' He also directed an episode of the Fox medical show. Warner was also the voice of the Producer character on 'The Magic School Bus.' Most recently, Warner appeared in three episodes of Fox's 'Alert: Missing Persons Unit' that aired earlier this year. Outside of acting, Warner won a Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance for his song 'Jesus Children' with Robert Glasper featuring Lalah Hathaway in 2015. In January, he started the podcast 'Not All Hood' with Weusi Baraka and Candace Kelley that 'takes a provocative look at the vastly different lived experiences and identities of blacks in America.' Warner dated Michelle Thomas, who played his girlfriend on 'The Cosby Show.' Thomas died in 1998 of a desmoplastic tumor at 30. He was also in relationships with actresses Karen Malina White from 2000 to 2007 and Regina King from 2011 to 2013. Warner is survived by his wife and daughter, whom he chose to keep private. Originally published as 'The Cosby Show' star Malcolm-Jamal Warner dead at 54 from accidental drowning in Costa Rica
