RIP: Malcolm-Jamal Warner dies after drowning in Costa Rica
The American actor and musician Malcolm-Jamal Warner passed away on Sunday, July 20, 2023. Pictures: X/Twitter/screenshot
Tributes are continuing to pour in for The Cosby Show star Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who has died at the age of 54.
The American actor and singer drowned while on holiday with his family in Costa Rica.
He was reportedly swimming at Playa Grande near the town of Cahuita in Limón province on Sunday afternoon when a strong current pulled him into deeper water.
According to CNN, Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Police said beachgoers tried to assist Warner, but he was later declared dead by the Red Cross.
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'Malcolm-Jamal Warner was a true, great person'
Fans and celebrities have taken to social media to remember Warner.
Warner's long-time friend and fellow actor Adam Sandler said he was a great person.
'We had such good times together. I was probably 18 and Malcolm was maybe 17 or 16 – I don't know. We would take walks, pick up food, talk, play basketball, hang out on weekends and go to parties together.
'He was so good to me as a person. And his mum was amazing to him. I'm sending love to the family. Malcolm was a true, great person – hilarious, smart – and he meant a lot to America,' Sandler told Entertainment Tonight.
Adam Sandler remembers his time working with Malcolm-Jamal Warner on 'The Cosby Show.' 💔 pic.twitter.com/1UOJmN05WX
July 22, 2025
In addition to his acting success, Warner was a Grammy Award-winning poet and a talented musician. He was part of the jazz-funk band Miles Long.
Here are more tributes from X formerly Twitter.
The Gentle Giant
A poem and tribute to our beloved brother Malcolm-Jamal Warner
Today, we lost a gentle giant.
A man who won our hearts not by force, but by quiet grace.
From the very beginning, Malcolm-Jamal Warner reminded us that being calm, classy, sophisticated, and soulful… pic.twitter.com/1tUkY5QZ3q — Tyrese Gibson (@Tyrese) July 21, 2025
Malcolm-Jamal Warner was not only Black television royalty, he was a Grammy Award winning poet and talented musician in a jazz band. May he rest in peace 💛 pic.twitter.com/2uAAJ7RZM8
July 21, 2025
RIP to the great Malcolm Jamal Warner, my generation grew up on him pic.twitter.com/Yzi4j6nLDu — Rilla🇺🇸 (@Finalbossjimmy) July 21, 2025
The saddest part about Malcolm-Jamal Warner's passing is that there's a whole generation that will never see his early acting brilliance on the Cosby Show because of what that terrible man did. They won't be able to watch reruns or watch it on streaming to truly appreciate him 🥺 pic.twitter.com/FEQyrQdpGE — Queer Latifah 🥂 (@TheAfrocentricI) July 22, 2025
So many of us watched #MalcolmJamalWarner grow up: from the adorably adolescent 'Theo' on the Cosby Show to the admirably arrogant surgeon 'Dr. Austin' on The Resident. In but 54 years, he impressed many—as in millions—as an excellent actor & socially conscious artist. RIP pic.twitter.com/t9oRR8U10Q — Rev. & Prof. Cornell William Brooks (@CornellWBrooks) July 21, 2025
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Bill Cosby pays heartfelt tribute to Malcolm-Jamal Warner following his tragic death
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