Death of Malcolm-Jamal Warner shocks fans: ‘We saw ourselves in him'
And Malcolm-Jamal Warner's Theo Huxtable was the character generation X most related to. Fans took quickly to social media on Monday as news of Warner's accidental drowning in Costa Rica spread.
'It's like losing one of us,' said Harriet Cammock, a 58-year-old Detroit author and speaker. 'This is the thing with television. When you're watching people every week on television, you think you know them and you're related to them.'
Warner was swimming Sunday afternoon at Playa Cocles in Costa Rica's Limon province when a current pulled him deeper into the Caribbean, according to that country's judicial investigation department.
First responders found him without vital signs.
Cori Murray, executive vice-president of content at Ebony Magazine, was saddened upon hearing about Warner's death. She said his Theo character mirrored the everyday Black teenager, which was rare to see on TV at the time.
While so many portrayals of young Black teenagers leaned negative, The Cosby Show, especially Theo, showed warmth, joy and relatability.
'He wasn't just a character. We saw ourselves in him,' Murray said. 'You know how Kendrick Lamar has the song 'Not Like Us'? Well, Theo was one of us. He was like us.'
Murray, who met Warner a few times, recalled his character off-screen matched the warmth he exuded on television. She called him respectful and pleasant and said he had a 'megawatt smile' that lit up the room.
'His energy stayed with you,' Murray said. 'You don't have a bad memory when it comes to Theo or Malcolm-Jamal Warner. As much as we loved the character, we also watched Malcolm grow up in real life. No scandals. No mess. Just a talented young man who matured into an upstanding, handsome adult.'
The Cosby Show was groundbreaking and a ratings giant, drawing in viewers across racial, cultural and economic backgrounds. The show ran for 197 episodes from 1984 to 1992. In 1986, Warner earned an Emmy nomination for supporting actor in a comedy.
The show starring Bill Cosby as Cliff Huxtable and Phylicia Rashad as his wife, Clair, 'made the wider society aware that there are Black people who live like white people do', said Cammock, who is Black. 'The perception that we don't live like they do was hurtful.'
Gil Robertson, co-founder and president of the African American Film Critics Association, reflected on Warner's rare path in the entertainment industry.
'There was never any scandal, no controversy,' said Robertson. 'He transitioned from a teen star to a respected adult without the baggage we often see from others in his generation. That's no small feat.'
Robertson added: 'The legacy of Theo Huxtable – and Malcolm's performance – will live on. It left an imprint that will continue to resonate in our culture for generations.'
Lynn Reasonover, 62, of Oak Lawn, Illinois, began receiving messages Monday afternoon about Warner's death. Her initial thoughts were 'Nope, didn't happen.'
'Then, I kept seeing the news flashes and friends started sending texts,' Reasonover said. 'So, it's sinking in. Makes you realize how much some celebrities help shape our memories. His work had such a huge impact. I'm feeling a personal loss because we grew up with him. It's like losing a part of our childhood.'
Reasonover saw much of her family in the Huxtables, where both parents were professionals who valued education and handled family issues with understanding and love.
'They had similar problems to what we experienced growing up,' she said. 'We could relate and that's why we laughed.'
Rasheda Williams, 46, of Detroit was about the same age as Rudy, the youngest character on The Cosby Show and Theo's little sister. Williams said she and others are mourning Warner's passing because of what they saw in the character he played.
'He's like the ideal cousin you wish you had,' Williams said. 'Hearing the news has really affected some of us. It was unexpected. He wasn't sick. That makes it even more tragic.'
'He wasn't just an actor,' she said. 'He was also an activist, a positive role model, not just for young Black men, but for young Black women as well.'
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Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Malcolm-Jamal Warner death investigation sparks further confusion as police officer speaks
The investigation into the death of Malcolm-Jamal Warner has taken another shock turn, 18 days after the actor drowned on a Costa Rican beach. Authorities originally claimed that Cosby Show star Warner, 54, was swimming with his eight-year-old daughter on July 20 when the pair were caught by a rip current - with surfers rushing to their aid. In a statement on Thursday, Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) said that the star's daughter was not in the water at the time that he drowned. 'Mr. Warner was playing with his daughter at the seashore at one point. He then left her out of the water, and he and a friend of his entered the sea,' the OIJ said in a statement originally written in Spanish. 'It was at that moment that they were swept away by the current, and the friend managed to get out,' it continued. 'However, Mr. Warner was unable to get out and was pulled out by several people on the beach. He received care from Red Cross officials, but was pronounced dead at the scene.' Now, Elberth León, Chief of the Tourist Police of the Atlantic Region, has doubled down on claims the actor was indeed trying to save his daughter and confirmed she was in the water at the time, saying: 'I know what I saw.' León, who responded to the July 20th incident, added in a statement to US Weekly: 'The Red Cross also treated the girl [on site] and she didn't need to go to the clinic. 'I don't know why the OIJ is saying that, since they weren't present at the scene. They interviewed Malcom's family, but they also weren't there at the time of the accident.' contacted representatives for the OIJ for comment - who reissued their previous statement that Warner's daughter was on the shoreline. has also reached out to Warner's representatives for comment but hasn't yet received a response. New York's ABC7 had previously reported that law enforcement said one surfer dived in to help and 'used his board to bring Warner's daughter to safety and a volunteer lifeguard pulled Warner and another surfer to shore.' The reason for the discrepancy is unclear. Warner, who died of asphyxia by submersion, was given 45 minutes of CPR after he was pulled out of the ocean. The father and daughter had been enjoying a day on the water near Cocles, a beach in Limon, Costa Rica, before tragedy struck. The outlet noted that both surfers survived the harrowing ordeal on Sunday. Prior to his passing, Warner made a conscious effort to keep his daughter and wife out of the spotlight, apart from the occasional social media post. For privacy reasons, he chose not to publicly disclose his daughter or wife's names. Last week, officials announced that a man left in critical condition was trying to save the actor. A spokesman for OIJ revealed the Good Samaritan had entered the water to help Warner after he was swept away by a rip current. A statement obtained by People confirmed the unidentified 35-year-old man had no personal connection to the actor beforehand and was simply on the beach at the time Warner got into difficulty. Following Warner's shock death, lifeguards from Playa Grande — a beach community located on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica — released a statement saying they were not present due to lack of 'resources.' 'We deeply regret the passing of Malcolm-Jamal Warner at Playa Grande. He was swept away by a strong rip current and died by drowning,' the Caribbean Guard, Costa Rica's volunteer lifeguard association, shared via Facebook on Monday. 'It all happened very quickly, and although there were people on the beach who entered the water to rescue him, they did not arrive in time.' 'He was pulled from underwater without vital signs, and despite CPR maneuvers being performed on the beach, resuscitation was unsuccessful.' The Guard added that Playa Grande is one of their 'most challenging beaches,' noting the presence of signs in English and Spanish that warn of the 'danger of death due to drowning.' Though the Guard has patrolled there 'over the past few years,' they alleged that they were 'not present' at the time of Warner's death. Following Warner's shock death at 54, lifeguards from Playa Grande released a statement saying they were not present due to lack of 'resources' 'Due to recent aquatic incidents in Playa Negra, we had redirected resources there and to Chiquita, another iconic beach known for its strong currents,' they shared in the statement. They then made an appeal to Costa Rica's president, Rodrigo Chaves Robles, and the government. 'From Caribbean Guard, a volunteer lifeguard association, we make an urgent appeal to the President of the Nation, the national government, the Municipality of Talamanca, and the entire Caribbean community to continue joining forces to minimize this problem, which, sadly, is on the rise ACROSS THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.' 'We do everything within our reach. We have saved numerous lives in recent years, and if Caribbean Guard didn't exist, the number of drownings would be counted in dozens. We give everything we have to minimize the risks, but without help from the government, clear public policies, and strong support from local business owners, this will continue to happen.' On Sunday, the Costa Rican Red Cross received a 9-1-1 alert about a water incident at Playa Grande, Cahuita, Limón. In response, three ambulances were sent to the scene, as per Us Weekly. Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Department told Us Weekly that their preliminary investigation indicated Warner 'appeared to have entered the sea and was apparently swept away by a current.' Warner had been in Costa Rica since July 13. Warner was best known for his iconic role as Theodore Huxtable, the only son of Cliff Huxtable, on the beloved NBC sitcom The Cosby Show. He appeared in all eight seasons from 1984 to 1992, earning widespread acclaim and becoming a household name. At the time, Warner was just a teenager, but his performance earned widespread acclaim, including a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series at the 1986 Primetime Emmy Awards. His character, Theo, was based on Bill Cosby's real-life son, Ennis Cosby, and was portrayed with depth and sensitivity. Beyond The Cosby Show, Warner carved out a successful and diverse career in both comedy and drama. He starred as Malcolm McGee in the UPN sitcom Malcolm & Eddie (1996–2000) opposite Eddie Griffin, and later headlined BET's Reed Between the Lines from 2011 to 2015 as Dr. Alex Reed. His television credits also included recurring roles and guest appearances on shows like Sons of Anarchy, Jeremiah, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and Community. Warner also voiced the Producer character on the educational children's series The Magic School Bus.
Daily Mail
16 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Malcolm-Jamal Warner death investigation takes mysterious new twist as police officer speaks
The investigation into the death of Malcolm-Jamal Warner has taken another shock turn, 18 days after the actor drowned on a Costa Rican beach. Authorities originally claimed that Cosby Show star Warner, 54, was swimming with his eight-year-old daughter on July 20 when the pair were caught by a rip current - with surfers rushing to their aid. In a statement on Thursday, Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) said that the star's daughter was not in the water at the time that he drowned. 'Mr. Warner was playing with his daughter at the seashore at one point. He then left her out of the water, and he and a friend of his entered the sea,' the OIJ said in a statement originally written in Spanish. 'It was at that moment that they were swept away by the current, and the friend managed to get out,' it continued. 'However, Mr. Warner was unable to get out and was pulled out by several people on the beach. He received care from Red Cross officials, but was pronounced dead at the scene.' Now, Elberth León, Chief of the Tourist Police of the Atlantic Region, has doubled down on claims the actor was indeed trying to save his daughter and she was in the water at the time, saying: 'I know what I saw.' León, who responded to the incident, added in a statement to US Weekly: 'The Red Cross also treated the girl [on site] and she didn't need to go to the clinic. 'I don't know why the OIJ is saying that, since they weren't present at the scene. They interviewed Malcom's family, but they also weren't there at the time of the accident.' contacted representatives for the OIJ for comment - who reissued their previous statement that Warner's daughter was on the shoreline. has also reached out to Warner's representatives for comment but hasn't yet received a response. New York's ABC7 had previously reported that law enforcement said one surfer dived in to help and 'used his board to bring Warner's daughter to safety and a volunteer lifeguard pulled Warner and another surfer to shore.' The reason for the discrepancy is unclear. Warner, who died of asphyxia by submersion, was given 45 minutes of CPR after he was pulled out of the ocean. The father and daughter had been enjoying a day on the water near Cocles, a beach in Limon, Costa Rica, before tragedy struck. The outlet noted that both surfers survived the harrowing ordeal on Sunday. Prior to his passing, Warner made a conscious effort to keep his daughter and wife out of the spotlight, apart from the occasional social media post. For privacy reasons, he chose not to publicly disclose his daughter or wife's names. Earlier this week, officials announced that a man left in critical condition was trying to save the actor. A spokesman for The Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) revealed the Good Samaritan had entered the water to help Warner after he was swept away by a rip current. A statement obtained by People confirmed the unidentified 35-year-old man had no personal connection to the actor beforehand and was simply on the beach at the time Warner got into difficulty. Following Warner's shock death, lifeguards from Playa Grande — a beach community located on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica — released a statement saying they were not present due to lack of 'resources.' 'We deeply regret the passing of Malcolm-Jamal Warner at Playa Grande. He was swept away by a strong rip current and died by drowning,' the Caribbean Guard, Costa Rica's volunteer lifeguard association, shared via Facebook on Monday. 'It all happened very quickly, and although there were people on the beach who entered the water to rescue him, they did not arrive in time.' 'He was pulled from underwater without vital signs, and despite CPR maneuvers being performed on the beach, resuscitation was unsuccessful.' The Guard added that Playa Grande is one of their 'most challenging beaches,' noting the presence of signs in English and Spanish that warn of the 'danger of death due to drowning.' Though the Guard has patrolled there 'over the past few years,' they alleged that they were 'not present' at the time of Warner's death. Following Warner's shock death at 54, lifeguards from Playa Grande released a statement saying they were not present due to lack of 'resources' 'Due to recent aquatic incidents in Playa Negra, we had redirected resources there and to Chiquita, another iconic beach known for its strong currents,' they shared in the statement. They then made an appeal to Costa Rica's president, Rodrigo Chaves Robles, and the government. 'From Caribbean Guard, a volunteer lifeguard association, we make an urgent appeal to the President of the Nation, the national government, the Municipality of Talamanca, and the entire Caribbean community to continue joining forces to minimize this problem, which, sadly, is on the rise ACROSS THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.' 'We do everything within our reach. We have saved numerous lives in recent years, and if Caribbean Guard didn't exist, the number of drownings would be counted in dozens. We give everything we have to minimize the risks, but without help from the government, clear public policies, and strong support from local business owners, this will continue to happen.' On Sunday, the Costa Rican Red Cross received a 9-1-1 alert about a water incident at Playa Grande, Cahuita, Limón. In response, three ambulances were sent to the scene, as per Us Weekly. Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Department told Us Weekly that their preliminary investigation indicated Warner 'appeared to have entered the sea and was apparently swept away by a current.' Warner had been in Costa Rica since July 13. Warner was best known for his iconic role as Theodore Huxtable, the only son of Cliff Huxtable, on the beloved NBC sitcom The Cosby Show. He appeared in all eight seasons from 1984 to 1992, earning widespread acclaim and becoming a household name. At the time, Warner was just a teenager, but his performance earned widespread acclaim, including a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series at the 1986 Primetime Emmy Awards. His character, Theo, was based on Bill Cosby's real-life son, Ennis Cosby, and was portrayed with depth and sensitivity. Beyond The Cosby Show, Warner carved out a successful and diverse career in both comedy and drama. He starred as Malcolm McGee in the UPN sitcom Malcolm & Eddie (1996–2000) opposite Eddie Griffin, and later headlined BET's Reed Between the Lines from 2011 to 2015 as Dr. Alex Reed. His television credits also included recurring roles and guest appearances on shows like Sons of Anarchy, Jeremiah, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and Community. Warner also voiced the Producer character on the educational children's series The Magic School Bus.
Daily Mail
19 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Malcolm Jamal-Warner's Cosby Show co-star breaks silence on actor's shock drowning death
Malcolm Jamal-Warner has been remembered by his grieving co-star after his tragic drowning death aged 54. Warner drowned on a Costa Rican beach on Sunday, July 20, without lifeguards present, and a second man involved in the same incident was left in a critical condition. Keshia Knight Pulliam, who played Malcolm's onscreen sister Rudy in the show, shared a sweet video of the actor playing bass guitar at an Atlanta event. She wrote: 'A week ago I lost my big brother but I gained an angel… I love you… I miss you… We got our girls.' A further post read: 'Thank you for every text, call and all of the love you have sent my way.' Police originally said the Theodore Huxtable actor's eight-year-old daughter had been in the water with him at the time. According to police, surfers leapt to action after spotting the actor and his little girl 'struggling' in the ocean after getting caught by a rip current. In a statement to People on Thursday, Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) said that the Cosby Show star's daughter was not in the water at the time that he drowned. 'Mr. Warner was playing with his daughter at the seashore at one point. He then left her out of the water, and he and a friend of his entered the sea,' the OIJ said in a statement originally written in Spanish. 'It was at that moment that they were swept away by the current, and the friend managed to get out,' it continued. 'However, Mr. Warner was unable to get out and was pulled out by several people on the beach. He received care from Red Cross officials, but was pronounced dead at the scene.' New York's ABC7 had previously reported that law enforcement said one surfer dived in to help and 'used his board to bring Warner's daughter to safety and a volunteer lifeguard pulled Warner and another surfer to shore.' The reason for the discrepancy is unclear. Warner, who died of asphyxia by submersion, was given 45 minutes of CPR after he was pulled out of the ocean. Unfortunately, he could not be revived and was pronounced dead at the scene by authorities. eshia Knight Pulliam, who played Malcolm's onscreen sister Rudy in the show, shared a sweet video of the actor playing bass guitar at an Atlanta event In a statement to People on Thursday, Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Agency said the actor and his daughter had been playing in the water, but he left her on the shore before going back in the water with a friend, shortly before 'they were swept away by the current'; Warner is seen with his daughter The father and daughter had been enjoying a day on the water near Cocles, a beach in Limon, Costa Rica, before tragedy struck. The outlet noted that both surfers survived the harrowing ordeal on Sunday. has reached out to Warner's representatives for comment but hasn't yet received a response. Prior to his passing, Warner made a conscious effort to keep his daughter and wife out of the spotlight, apart from the occasional social media post. For privacy reasons, he chose not to publicly disclose his daughter or wife's names. Earlier this week, officials announced that a man left in critical condition was trying to save the actor. A spokesman for The Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) revealed the Good Samaritan had entered the water to help Warner after he was swept away by a rip current. A statement obtained by People confirmed the unidentified 35-year-old man had no personal connection to the actor beforehand and was simply on the beach at the time Warner got into difficulty. Warner was swimming at Playa Cocles in Limon province when a current pulled him deeper into the ocean. First responders from Costa Rica's Red Cross found Warner without vital signs when they attended the scene of the 'water related incident' around 2.10pm on Sunday. Per the OIJ, Warner's body will be 'removed from the Judicial Morgue by a funeral service company hired and authorized by Mr. Warner's family.' According to TMZ, his remains are scheduled to leave Costa Rica on Thursday and will arrive in Los Angeles on Friday morning A source told the outlet that the actor's body was 'turned over by the Judicial Morgue on Wednesday morning, following the completion of his autopsy.' Following Warner's shock death, lifeguards from Playa Grande — a beach community located on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica — released a statement saying they were not present due to lack of 'resources.' 'We deeply regret the passing of Malcolm-Jamal Warner at Playa Grande. He was swept away by a strong rip current and died by drowning,' the Caribbean Guard, Costa Rica's volunteer lifeguard association, shared via Facebook on Monday. 'It all happened very quickly, and although there were people on the beach who entered the water to rescue him, they did not arrive in time.' 'He was pulled from underwater without vital signs, and despite CPR maneuvers being performed on the beach, resuscitation was unsuccessful.' The Guard added that Playa Grande is one of their 'most challenging beaches,' noting the presence of signs in English and Spanish that warn of the 'danger of death due to drowning.' Though the Guard has patrolled there 'over the past few years,' they alleged that they were 'not present' at the time of Warner's death. Following Warner's shock death at 54, lifeguards from Playa Grande released a statement saying they were not present due to lack of 'resources' 'Due to recent aquatic incidents in Playa Negra, we had redirected resources there and to Chiquita, another iconic beach known for its strong currents,' they shared in the statement. They then made an appeal to Costa Rica's president, Rodrigo Chaves Robles, and the government. 'From Caribbean Guard, a volunteer lifeguard association, we make an urgent appeal to the President of the Nation, the national government, the Municipality of Talamanca, and the entire Caribbean community to continue joining forces to minimize this problem, which, sadly, is on the rise ACROSS THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.' 'We do everything within our reach. We have saved numerous lives in recent years, and if Caribbean Guard didn't exist, the number of drownings would be counted in dozens. We give everything we have to minimize the risks, but without help from the government, clear public policies, and strong support from local business owners, this will continue to happen.' On Sunday, the Costa Rican Red Cross received a 9-1-1 alert about a water incident at Playa Grande, Cahuita, Limón. In response, three ambulances were sent to the scene, as per Us Weekly. Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Department told Us Weekly that their preliminary investigation indicated Warner 'appeared to have entered the sea and was apparently swept away by a current.' Warner had been in Costa Rica since July 13. Warner was best known for his iconic role as Theodore Huxtable, the only son of Cliff Huxtable, on the beloved NBC sitcom The Cosby Show. He appeared in all eight seasons from 1984 to 1992, earning widespread acclaim and becoming a household name. At the time, Warner was just a teenager, but his performance earned widespread acclaim, including a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series at the 1986 Primetime Emmy Awards. His character, Theo, was based on Bill Cosby's real-life son, Ennis Cosby, and was portrayed with depth and sensitivity. In the show, Theo is diagnosed with dyslexia after struggling academically during his freshman year at New York University—an arc that resonated with many viewers. Beyond The Cosby Show, Warner carved out a successful and diverse career in both comedy and drama. He starred as Malcolm McGee in the UPN sitcom Malcolm & Eddie (1996–2000) opposite Eddie Griffin, and later headlined BET's Reed Between the Lines from 2011 to 2015 as Dr. Alex Reed. His television credits also included recurring roles and guest appearances on shows like Sons of Anarchy, Jeremiah, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and Community. Warner also voiced the Producer character on the educational children's series The Magic School Bus.
