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A former entertainment reporter remembers Malcolm-Jamal Warner as ‘America's brother and son'

A former entertainment reporter remembers Malcolm-Jamal Warner as ‘America's brother and son'

Boston Globe2 days ago
First appearing in the role when he was 14, Warner came to represent the experience of
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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Stevie Wonder Breaks Silence On Malcolm-Jamal Warner's Tragic Death
Stevie Wonder Breaks Silence On Malcolm-Jamal Warner's Tragic Death

Yahoo

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  • Yahoo

Stevie Wonder Breaks Silence On Malcolm-Jamal Warner's Tragic Death

Music legend is mourning the loss of "The Cosby Show" star , who died tragically in an accidental drowning on Sunday at the age of 54. Malcolm-Jamal Warner's passing has sent shockwaves through Hollywood and beyond, leaving fans and fellow stars in mourning over the loss of a man known not only for his talent, but for his integrity and impact. Stevie Wonder Pays Emotional Tribute To Malcolm-Jamal Warner Speaking with TMZ on Wednesday, Stevie Wonder opened up about the deep emotional impact Warner's death has had on him. 'My heart is broken,' the 75-year-old singer said, recalling their shared moment on a memorable 1986 episode of "The Cosby Show." Wonder went on to describe Warner's significance using a powerful metaphor. 'I don't know if you know what a 'griot' is. It's like the African who told the stories in the various villages would have the griot," he said. "Whenever a griot would die, it would be like a whole library of information burning.' 'Not only was he a talented man growing up and doing 'The Cosby Show,' but even more important, his commitment was telling the story, the truth,' he continued. 'And for me, in a time where we have so many in high places telling low-down lies, we need the truth. So yeah, I miss him.' Wonder also issued a heartfelt call to action for others in the entertainment industry, urging them to honor Warner's legacy by choosing purpose over fame. 'I hope that the writers, the singers, rappers will begin to spread messages of positivity, of hope, and us moving this world forward,' he said. 'I'm quiet, but my heart is hurting.' Warner Dies In Tragic Drowning While Vacationing With Daughter Earlier Wednesday, more details emerged about the heartbreaking circumstances surrounding Warner's death. The actor died in an accidental drowning while vacationing in Costa Rica with his 8-year-old daughter. According to ABC News, Warner was swimming at Playa Cocles in the province of Limón when he was pulled under by a strong current. Volunteer lifeguard Mike Geist, who was among the first to respond, told AZ Family that he and another surfer rushed into the ocean after a distress call. A passing surfer was able to bring Warner's daughter to safety while Geist and another volunteer searched for Warner. 'We found him below the surface, near the ocean floor,' Geist said. 'The surfer then pulled the actor to the surface and started rescue efforts.' Despite their desperate attempts to save him, joined by two vacationing doctors who performed CPR for more than 30 minutes, Warner did not regain consciousness. Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Department later confirmed his cause of death as asphyxiation by submersion. Tracee Ellis Ross Remembers Malcolm-Jamal Warner Stevie Wonder is by far the only one to speak out about the beloved actor. Actress , who worked closely with Warner, took to social media with a touching tribute and series of nostalgic photos. 'I love you, Malcolm,' Ross began. First, I met you as Theo with the rest of the world, then you were my first TV husband. My heart is so, so sad.' She continued, 'What an actor and friend you were: warm, gentle, present, kind, thoughtful, deep, funny, elegant. You made the world a brighter place. Sending so much love to your family. I'm so sorry for this unimaginable loss.' Emily VanCamp Pays Tribute To Late 'Resident' Co-Star The "Resident" star Emily VanCamp also shared an emotional message, remembering her co-star for his warmth, authenticity, and kindness. 'I'm not sure I have the words to express what a gift it was to know you and to work with you,' she wrote on Instagram alongside a black-and-white photo of the pair. 'Your thunderous laugh, the bear hugs, our chats about love, family and life. A true family man with so much integrity and an endlessly generous spirit. You walked the walk, my friend. Sending all my love to your beautiful family and all of those who knew you and were close to you. Beyond heartbroken." Angelique Bates Mourns Malcolm-Jamal Warner Actress spoke out following the sudden death of Malcolm-Jamal Warner, calling the late actor her 'only true hero' in the entertainment world. In an exclusive statement to The Blast, Bates shared her heartbreak. 'I haven't felt this kind of heartbreak in a long time,' she said. 'This morning, I woke up to the devastating news that I've lost the only true hero I've ever had in this twisted industry. I still can't believe I'm even writing these words. Malcolm-Jamal Warner's name is the very last one I ever imagined hearing in this context.' Bates, known for her role on "All That," expressed deep admiration for Warner, whose decades-long career in television inspired many across generations.

‘Washington Black' review: Escaping enslavement becomes a rip-roaring adventure
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‘Washington Black' review: Escaping enslavement becomes a rip-roaring adventure

What does 'somewhere safe' mean when a bounty hunter is on your trail? In the Hulu adventure series 'Washington Black,' that location has been Halifax, Nova Scotia — at least temporarily — for the title character who, as a boy, escaped enslavement on a sugar plantation in early 19th century Barbados. Now a young adult (Ernest Kingsley Jr.), he goes by Jack Crawford to evade detection. Wash, as he was known in a former life, has been living for an indeterminate period of time as a free man in Halifax among other free Black people, including the warmly protective Medwin (Sterling K. Brown, also a producer here), who affectionately calls Wash 'island boy' and says things like 'Are we dreamin' or are we drinkin'?' before clinking glasses, and then: 'If the white folks don't kill ya, this'll definitely do the job,' he says of whatever they're swilling. He is also not afraid to get his hands dirty. This is good news for Wash, since that aforementioned bounty hunter means business. An accomplished artist and scientist who dreams of building a flying machine, Wash's interests and prodigious talents are conspicuous enough that his attempts to disappear haven't fully succeeded, forcing him into hiding. There's also the beautiful young blonde woman Wash spotted days earlier at the docks. As she disembarked from a ship, he stared, both enraptured but also clocking that she's biracial, something the white population of Halifax has failed to grasp. That's how her (white) father wants it, but she has no intention of living a lie or denying the memory of her deceased mother. Her insistence is why they left London to start over in Halifax, as her father keeps reminding her: 'You are a child of England, a child of empire, and that is the skin you must inhabit for us both.' The tenuousness of her and Wash's circumstances complicates the sweetness of their tentative romance. They have both been living double lives and have a unique understanding of one another as a result. That's the 1837 narrative. The other begins eight years earlier in Barbados, and it is Wash's origin story told in flashback. A repellent plantation owner rides out to the sugarcane fields to ward off any thoughts of suicide as a means of escape from their living nightmare: 'Killing yourself is a crime against me as surely as if you stole my horse and slit his throat.' This cruel man has a brother, whose arrival changes the course of Wash's life. A high-spirited inventor and abolitionist named Titch (Tom Ellis), he recognizes the child's curiosity and talent and takes the preteen (played by Eddie Karanja) under his wing. Soon enough, the pair are fleeing the sugarcane fields and Titch's nasty family dysfunction in a blimp-shaped 'cloutcutter' of the man's own devising. They don't get far before crashing into the masts of a pirate ship, and so Wash's journey — a grand, Jules Verne-esque tale both thrilling and fought with danger — begins. Based on the 2018 novel of the same name by Esi Edugyan, the eight-episode series is adapted by show creator Selwyn Seyfu Hinds and has a throwback quality to it, with a sweeping orchestral score that sets the tone. Wash's story can be deeply harrowing in parts (Nat Turner, played by Jamie Hector, makes a brief appearance and he is deadly serious about how precarious everyone's safety is), but it is also filled with dreamy and audacious escapades that see Wash deep sea diving and becoming mesmerized by the vast unknowableness of ocean life under the water. Is a novel, which engages the imagination differently than a screen adaptation, better equipped to toggle between these competing tones? Perhaps. More pressing, for me, was the question of who Wash is, in terms of his personality. As written and performed, we don't get much sense of what his own particular internal monologue might be, and this becomes underscored in any scene he shares with Brown's Medwin, who is such a clearly defined presence by comparison. Brown's an actor working on a different level than most, and he's very effective in his few appearances. I wish the show had outlined a bit more about the lives of Black people in Fairfax. They are free but vulnerable, and that nuance comes through most clearly when Medwin walks into a watering hole patronized by white men. The place goes quiet and he takes a seat at the bar. The man next to him says, 'I wouldn't expect your kind to be welcome in a place like this,' to which Medwin replies evenly: 'No, not usually. But most of the boys in here still need me and mine to make life easier for 'em down on the docks, so' — he takes a short but meaningful pause — 'we agree to disagree.' 'Washington Black' — 2.5 stars (out of 4) Where to watch: Hulu

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