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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 Globe4 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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NEWS OF THE WEEK: Malcolm-Jamal Warner dies at 54 in accidental drowning
NEWS OF THE WEEK: Malcolm-Jamal Warner dies at 54 in accidental drowning

Yahoo

time4 hours ago

  • Yahoo

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.

31 Pairs Of Comfy Shoes Your Feet Will Love
31 Pairs Of Comfy Shoes Your Feet Will Love

Buzz Feed

time4 hours ago

  • Buzz Feed

31 Pairs Of Comfy Shoes Your Feet Will Love

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Beyoncé fans are paying close attention to her hair color as tour ends: Here's why
Beyoncé fans are paying close attention to her hair color as tour ends: Here's why

USA Today

time5 hours ago

  • USA Today

Beyoncé fans are paying close attention to her hair color as tour ends: Here's why

Beyoncé Knowles-Carter is about to wrap up her "Cowboy Carter" tour in Las Vegas, and fans are already searching for clues about what's next for the superstar. Their current focus is the hair color of some of Beyoncé's dancers. The Grammy-winning singer kicked off her first concert at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on July 25. The concert marked her first of two shows at the stadium on her Cowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin' Circuit Tour. She is set to perform again July 26. As she took the stage, Beyoncé donned a floor-length American flag coat with a matching bodysuit and white cowboy hat. However, it was her blond hair color that immediately caught the attention of some fans. Prior to Friday's show, rumors began to swirl when fans noticed some of her dancers appearing to change their hair color to jet black. One account wrote on X, "Beyoncé's dancers are reportedly dyeing their hair black, sparking rumors that it's a visual clue for the third installment of her trilogy: act iii." As fans know, Beyoncé released her eighth studio album "Cowboy Carter" March 29. The country album has already made history on multiple fronts and put a spotlight on Black country artists. In July 2022 Beyoncé released her seventh studio album "Renaissance." The project earned her four Grammys in 2023 including best dance/electronic music album, making her the most decorated artist in the awards' history. She later announced the album was the first part of a three-act project, making "Cowboy Carter" Act 2. After releasing albums in the country and dance categories, there has been growing speculation that the last project in the trilogy could be a rock album. Beyoncé only fueled this idea after she posed as funk-rock diva Betty Davis for Halloween — and yes, she was wearing jet black hair. However, during the July 25 performance, not only was Beyoncé's hair not black, but many of her dancers' hair colors also varied from black to red and more. One fan wrote, "And the black hair theories are dismissed." However, others were reluctant to abandon the idea entirely, noting that there's still one more show to go. Some fans even went so far as to point out that last show date falls on Davis' birthday. There are always fan theories floating around, and fans can expect even more as Beyoncé closes out her tour and the Act 2 era leaving them to eagerly await Act 3. As always, only time will tell. Follow Caché McClay, the USA TODAY Network's Beyoncé Knowles-Carter reporter, on Instagram, TikTok and X as @cachemcclay.

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