A former entertainment reporter remembers Malcolm-Jamal Warner as ‘America's brother and son'
The '80s was a decade that grappled seriously with images of Black men, who were often portrayed in negative stereotypes. But Warner's Theo was different. He was accessible, likeable, honest, earnest.
He was loving, could be boastful, and while hardworking liked shortcuts. Theo was flawed and funny, someone easy to relate to.
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While best known for
Most recently as host of
of the Black community. While he became a household name at a young age, he never stopped evolving as an artist.
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As an entertainment journalist, I had the opportunity to interview Warner three times over the years. In each of our discussions, he was friendly, honest and incredibly humble. Chatting with him felt like reconnecting with an old friend. And as much as I thought I knew about him, each time we spoke I always discovered something new, like when he told me his dad named him
We shared how much we loved Michael Jackson's 'Off The Wall' album. As a musician, Warner told me he rediscovered each song from that album with 'different' ears
.
He once told me the legacy of 'The Cosby Show' meant a lot to him.
'It's definitely a show that I'm proud of and am proud to have been a part of. It's a show that changed television,' Warner said. 'It changed the way Black America, white America, and the world looked at Black people.'
We also chatted about his latest projects and who he was dating — because folks wanted to know. Warner dated a few famous actresses, including Karin Malina White, Michelle Thomas, whom he cared for until her death from cancer in 1998, and Regina King.
In 2017, he quietly got married, but kept the identity of his wife and their now 8-year old daughter private.
When you make a living interviewing famous people, you're sometimes disappointed when you meet them and they're not who you thought they might be.
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But as a man and professional, Warner was as wonderful as I expected. Even more terrific than Theo.
For the generations that don't have a strong connection to Warner's work, his greatest legacy may be the young black male actors and entertainers who came after him, from Jaleel White in 'Family Matters,' Tyler James Williams in 'Everybody Hates Chris,' or the bevy of characters former Nickelodeon stars Keenan (Thompson) and Kel (Mitchell) portrayed in TV and films.
Warner's success made it possible for someone like Nick Cannon of 'The Masked Singer' fame to transition from
a young TV and film idol into a broadcast mogul.
Reflecting on his passing over the last 24 hours, I kept thinking about what his legacy meant for my generation, the generation that grew up with him. We were lucky to be able to enjoy his amazing talents. And he left us a trove of
other work that can still be uncovered. So not only can you stream 'The Cosby Show' episodes that you know all the dialogue to, but you can also watch Malcolm in '9-1-1″ or 'Sons of Anarchy' or 'Sneaky Pete', listen to his music, and take in his podcast.
Warner's loss is tremendous and he will be missed deeply. But thanks to his artistry, he won't ever be forgotten.
Ronke Idowu Reeves is the Globe's SEO Editor. For over 20 years she worked as an entertainment writer and reporter for PEOPLE, BET, VH1, The Sundance Film Festival and Tribeca Festival. She is a contributor to the books 'Oprah: A Celebration at 70' and PEOPLE Books: Special Edition Barbie.'
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NEWS OF THE WEEK: Malcolm-Jamal Warner dies at 54 in accidental drowning
Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Department said on Monday, local time, that Warner drowned on Sunday afternoon on a beach on Costa Rica's Caribbean coast. The actor, who played teenager Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show, was swimming at Playa 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 outlined. First responders from Costa Rica's Red Cross found him without vital signs. Warner's Cosby Show character was the only son among four daughters in the household of Cliff and Clair Huxtable on the NBC sitcom.
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