Regina King wasn't Malcolm-Jamal Warner's only great love; what we know about his other high-profile relationships

Economic Times

3 days ago

AP
Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who died at 54 in a Costa Rica drowning accident, kept his family life private, but had once been linked to stars like Regina King, Michelle Thomas, and Karen Malina White.
Malcolm-Jamal Warner, beloved for his role as Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show, died at age 54 from an accidental drowning while on a family vacation in Costa Rica. A report by ABC, citing the Costa Rican National Police, revealed that Warner's official cause of death was asphyxia.He was caught in a strong current near Cocles beach in Limón, Costa Rica, and was discovered on Sunday afternoon.
Also Read: How rich was Malcolm-Jamal Warner? Inside the late actor's career earnings and net worthWarner is survived by his wife and daughter, whose identities he had intentionally kept private since marrying sometime between 2016 and 2017. While his marriage remained out of the public eye, Warner's earlier love life was anything but. His past relationships with some of Hollywood's most admired women, Michelle Thomas, Karen Malina White, and Regina King, have long drawn attention and continue to paint a fuller picture of the man behind the screen.
One of Warner's most poignant relationships was with Michelle Thomas, his Cosby Show co-star who played Theo's girlfriend on screen. The two dated from the late 1980s until her untimely death from cancer in 1998. Warner remained close to her throughout her illness and was reportedly at her side during her final moments. After Michelle's passing, Warner was in a long-term relationship with Karen Malina White, another Cosby Show alum.Their relationship spanned roughly seven years, from 2000 to 2007. Although rumors circulated that the two had married, White later clarified they had only dated seriously.Warner's most high-profile romance came with Emmy-winning actress Regina King. The two had known each other since the 1980s but began dating around 2011. They lived together and appeared to be deeply in love, with Warner calling their relationship 'very special' in a 2011 interview. But by 2013, the relationship had ended abruptly, reportedly initiated by Warner. In a later interview, King suggested that Warner broke up with her on Valentine's Day, leaving her 'heartbroken' after he sent flowers post-breakup with a note that read, 'I still love you.'After his split with King, Warner withdrew from the public spotlight regarding his personal life. Sometime between 2016 and 2017, he quietly got married and welcomed a daughter.
He chose to keep his wife's and child's identities private, rarely discussing them publicly. His final years were marked by this quiet, devoted family life, far removed from the high-profile relationships of his earlier career.