‘Cosby Show' star Malcolm-Jamal Warner dies by drowning at 54
Warner won the outstanding actor in a comedy series award from the NAACP for the series Reed Between the Lines in 2012.
Fox Entertainment also issued a statement on Monday about Warner's passing.
'Everyone at Fox is heartbroken by the tragic loss of our friend and colleague, the extraordinary Malcolm-Jamal Warner. His iconic roles, from comedic to dramatic, are unforgettable and timeless,' the statement said.
Warner played Dr AJ Austin on the Fox medical drama series The Resident .
The Cosby Show , which aired from 1984 to 1992, was one of the earliest portrayals of a successful, stable and wholesome black American family on television, which challenged negative stereotypes. Cosby portrayed a doctor, and Warner played his only son.
Warner, born on August 18, 1970 grew up in Jersey City, New Jersey, with his mother, Pamela, who became his acting manager. He was named after civil rights leader Malcolm X and jazz musician Ahmad Jamal.
At an early age Warner found he was interested in acting, which launched his career as a child performer and set him on the path to attend The Professional Children's School in New York.
While he had some small television roles early in his career, playing Theo Huxtable on T he Cosby Show served as his breakout role.
The actor received an Emmy nomination in 1986 for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series for his role on the NBC series. Warner won a Grammy award in 2015 for best traditional R&B performance for the song Jesus Children .
The 54-year-old actor also had roles in The Cosby Show spin-off series A Different World , J eremiah, Sons of Anarchy and Suits and hosted Saturday Night Live in 1986.
He has a wife and daughter but never publicly disclosed their names.
Reuters
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