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Tracee Ellis Ross, Jennifer Hudson, Magic Johnson and more react to death of Malcolm-Jamal Warner

Tracee Ellis Ross, Jennifer Hudson, Magic Johnson and more react to death of Malcolm-Jamal Warner

Independent21-07-2025
The death of Malcolm-Jamal Warner at just 54 was mourned by fans and admirers of the actor, who played the only son of Bill Cosby's Cliff Huxtable on the landmark series 'The Cosby Show' from 1984 to 1992 and also starred on the UPN sitcom 'Malcolm & Eddie' with Eddie Griffin.
Warner died Sunday in an accidental drowning at a Costa Rica beach, authorities there said Monday.
Actor Tracee Ellis Ross, who later played Warner's wife in the BET sitcom 'Reed Between the Lines,' wrote that her 'heart is so, so sad.' Magic Johnson said, 'Every time I ran into Malcolm, we would have deep and fun conversations about basketball, life and business.' Jennifer Hudson says she is 'truly heartbroken' and Marlee Matlin called him 'the nicest guy.'
Some reactions from fans and peers:
Tracee Ellis Ross
'I love you, Malcolm. 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. 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. — via Instagram
Eddie Griffin
'My Heart is heavy right now... Rest easy my Brother for you have Won in Life and now you've won forever eternal bliss.' — via Instagram
Jennifer Hudson
'Devastated by this news. Truly heartbroken! Rest well, king.' — on X
Magic Johnson
'Cookie and I are sad to hear about the passing of our dear friend Malcolm-Jamal Warner. We were both super fans of the hit 'Cosby Show' and continued to follow his career on shows like 'Malcolm and Eddie' and 'The Resident.' Every time I ran into Malcolm, we would have deep and fun conversations about basketball, life and business. He will truly be missed. — on X
Marlee Matlin
'I am so sad to read of the untimely passing of Malcolm Jamal Warner. He was the nicest guy and it was a privilege to have been in same company with him, sharing a directors' panel along with Howard Gordon and Michael Chiklis. My heart goes out to his family and friends. — on X.
NAACP
" #RestinPower to NAACP Image Award winning actor, Malcolm-Jamal Warner. Your talent and spirit touched many lives, and your legacy will continue to inspire. Thank you for the memories and the impact you made in the world of entertainment. — on X
Fox
'Everyone at Fox is heartbroken by the tragic loss of our friend and colleague, the extraordinary Malcolm-Jamal Warner. While his iconic roles — from comedic to dramatic — are unforgettable and timeless, Malcolm will be remembered most for his warmth, kind heart and the lasting impact he had on his friends, family and fans everywhere. Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with his family and loved ones.' — in a statement
The Martin Luther King Jr. Center
'Malcolm was a brilliant, multi-faceted artist and an inspiring giver. We are grateful for his love for #TheKingCenter and the King legacy. And for the ways he showed his support, including as co-host of our 2023 Beloved Community Awards... Our thoughts and prayers are with Malcolm's family during this very difficult time.' — on X
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Thinking of traveling solo? Tracee Ellis Ross has suggestions on how to do it well
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Malcolm-Jamal Warner death investigation sparks further confusion as police officer speaks
Malcolm-Jamal Warner death investigation sparks further confusion as police officer speaks

Daily Mail​

timea day 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.

Raye shows off her incredible figure in a plunging black swimsuit as she announces new music with a candid message about industry pressures
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timea day ago

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