Malcolm-Jamal Warner's death: Police clarify his daughter's whereabouts at time of actor's drowning
Despite earlier reports, Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) told People on Friday that the 'Cosby Show' alum's daughter was actually not in the water at the time of his drowning.
'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 statement, which was translated from Spanish to English, stated.
Advertisement
9 Malcolm-Jamal Warner.
Danny Moloshok/Invision/AP
'It was at that moment that they were swept away by the current, and the friend managed to get out,' the statement 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.'
On Monday, Costa Rican National Police confirmed to The Post that bystanders had pulled Warner from the water and taken him to shore.
Advertisement
9 Malcolm-Jamal Warner at home with his daughter.
malcolmjamalwar/Instagram
The Costa Rica Red Cross made revival efforts, but the attempts were unsuccessful. The actor was 54.
Playa Grande lifeguards confirmed they were 'not present' on the beach at the time of the accident due to a lack of 'resources.'
Warner's body was transported to the morgue at San Joaquin de Flores for an autopsy. His cause of death is listed as asphyxiation by 'submersion.'
Advertisement
TMZ reported on Wednesday that Warner's body has been released to the family. His body was expected to be flown back to Los Angeles on Thursday.
9 Malcolm Jamal Warner with his daughter as a baby.
malcolmjamalwar/Instagram
A second source claimed Warner was in Costa Rica with his daughter for a home-schooling program. His wife was allegedly not in the country and learned about the tragedy through a phone call.
Now, a doctor, who was one of the bystanders who pulled Warner out of the water, is revealing what happened.
Advertisement
'I was about 200 meters from the incident, at Playa Grande, spending the day on vacation with my partner,' the doctor, who asked to remain anonymous, told Us Weekly. 'There were very few people on the beach, and the sea was rough.'
9 Malcolm-Jamal Warner and his daughter.
The physician said he heard several cries and rushed over.
'I ran to the area and entered the sea with my surfboard, heading into the rip current toward the person being pointed at by some beachgoers,' he explained. 'After a few minutes, I saw a shadow, dove down and pulled the person out.'
Once the doctor got to shore, he saw the second bystander, who had helped rescue Warner, struggling to breathe while lying on the sand.
9 Malcolm-Jamal Warner celebrates the holidays with his daughter.
malcolmjamalwar/Instagram
'[He was] just someone who tried to help during the emergency, without any rescue equipment.'
Lifeguards explained on Monday that while Playa Grande is well known by 'local surfers,' it is one of their 'most challenging beaches.'
Advertisement
'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,' Costa Rica's volunteer lifeguard association, Caribbean Guard, wrote on Facebook Monday.
9 Malcolm-Jamal Warner and his daughter wash his car.
malcolmjamalwar/Instagram
'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,' the statement noted. 'He was pulled from underwater without vital signs, and despite CPR maneuvers being performed on the beach, resuscitation was unsuccessful.'
They added that there are signs placed along the beach in both Spanish and English 'warning of the danger of death due to drowning.'
Advertisement
Warner drowned while swimming near Cocles after allegedly being caught by a high current on Sunday, between 2 and 2:30 p.m. local time.
9 'The Cosby Show' cast photo.
NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
The Hollywood vet rose to fame playing Theodore 'Theo' Huxtable, the son of Bill Cosby's Cliff Huxtable, in 'The Cosby Show.'
The sitcom ran for eight seasons from 1984 to 1992 on NBC. Warner garnered a 1986 Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.
Advertisement
In 2021, the 'Malcolm & Eddie' vet spoke with The Post about the legacy of the series after Cosby's sexual assault conviction before it was overturned.
9 Malcolm-Jamal Warner arrives at the FX and Vanity Fair Pre-Emmy Celebration at Craft in LA on September 17, 2016.
MediaPunch/INSTARimages
9 Malcolm-Jamal Warner's photo shoot for Fox's 'The Resident.'
FOX Image Collection via Getty Images
'I can understand why some people can't watch the show and enjoy it because of everything that's going on now,' Warner said. 'But I think … there's a generation of young people who have pursued higher education or have started loving families because of the influence of that show.'
Advertisement
'So it's kind of like, you can't discount its impact on television culture and American culture,' he expressed.
After news of the tragedy broke, Cosby, 88, addressed Warner's death, revealing that it felt like losing his own son, who was murdered in 1997.
He told The Post through his rep: 'While I was their TV dad, I never stopped being a father to them.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Screen Geek
21 minutes ago
- Screen Geek
Michael Mann's 'Heat 2' Faces Pushback From WB
Michael Mann's 1995 crime drama Heat has been considered one of his greatest cinematic achievements. In 2022, he followed up the film with a novel titled Heat 2 . Soon after, plans for a feature film adaptation were announced, though it looks like Heat 2 is now facing pushback from Warner Bros. This is unfortunate news as there seemed to be some promising developments regarding Heat 2 in recent years. According to insider Matt Belloni, however, things have been slowing down due to the high budget Mann is asking for. The original film was made for $60 million, and now for its sequel Mann is said to have asked for more than $200 million before bringing his price down to $170 million. Of course, $170 million is still an incredibly high figure, and that's what has Warner Bros. co-CEOs Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy in a bind. While the situation is complicated, especially because they'd love to greenlight Heat 2 , there could be a few possibilities that ensure the sequel happens. For starters, as further shared by Belloni via Puck, it looks like Warner Bros. is interested in partnering with Apple to fund the movie. This is certainly one positive development, though what would absolutely increase the likelihood of Heat 2 finally hitting the big screen would be the involvement of one major A-list star. According to the publication, Mann has had 'conversations' with Leonardo DiCaprio, and if DiCaprio were to get involved, it would almost certainly get Heat 2 the greenlight. It's still unclear who DiCaprio would play in the film, though a young version of McCauley is one of the most suspected parts. Either way, it would be exciting to see Mann and DiCaprio collaborate on the project, and it's easy to see why that could be an instrumental factor in getting the movie funded. It's worth noting that Mann's novel Heat 2 is both a prequel and sequel to his original hit. This makes for a rather ambitious storyline, one that will have to balance narratives in both the past and future, but Mann is certainly up for the challenge – especially if he can get his desired budget and stars attached. Stay tuned to ScreenGeek for any additional updates regarding Heat 2 and the potential involvement of Apple or Leonardo DiCaprio as we have them. Whatever happens with the film project, at least fans will still have the excellent novel to see the full picture.
an hour ago
Brad Pitt's mother Jane Pitt dies at 84, family mourns her loss
Brad Pitt 's mother, Jane Pitt, has died at the age of 84, the actor's niece, Sydney Pitt, announced this week. According to her obituary, Jane Pitt died on Tuesday, Aug. 5. She is survived by her husband William Alvin "Bill" Pitt and their children, Brad Pitt, Doug Pitt and Julie Neal (née Pitt). In an Instagram post on Wednesday, Sydney Pitt, Doug Pitt's daughter, wrote a touching tribute to her grandmother, celebrating her legacy and the love she gave to others. "My sweet Grammy, Jane Etta, we were not ready for you to go yet but knowing you are finally free to sing, dance, and paint again makes it a tad easier," she wrote in the caption alongside photos of Jane Pitt throughout her life. "If you knew Grammy, you knew she had the biggest heart. She cared deeply for everyone and everything, no questions asked," she continued. "She taught me how to paint, how to be strong, how to lead with kindness, to love Jesus through everything, and to find joy in the smallest things. She made up the silliest games just to make us laugh, and she believed in fairness, in putting others first, and doing good simply because it was the right thing to do." Sydney Pitt also recalled how every year before school, Jane would give each grandchild a "special day," filled with activities like banana splits, board games and rides at Silver Dollar City. "She could keep up with all 14 of us grandkids without missing a beat. There was no limit to the love she gave, and everyone who met her felt it," Sydney Pitt added. "I don't know how we move forward without her. But I know she's still here in every brushstroke, every kind gesture, every hummingbird. She was love in its purest form." "We were truly blessed to have her to love on growing up and I know she lives on through each of us ♥️🪽✨🦜," she concluded the post. Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Jane Pitt was a former elementary school teacher who raised Brad Pitt and her two other children with her husband, Bill Pitt, in Springfield, Missouri. While Jane Pitt and Bill typically avoided the spotlight, they occasionally accompanied their famous son on the red carpet, including at the 2012 Oscars and the 2014 premiere of Angelina Jolie's "Unbroken." Her obituary also highlights Jane Pitt's passion for art and her devoted role as a grandmother. "Jane was a gifted artist who expressed herself most vividly through painting," the obituary read. "Her love for art became a cherished bond between her and her grandchildren during craft sessions and painting lessons that created lasting memories." "Known affectionately as 'Grammy,' Jane found immense joy in celebrating each grandchild's uniqueness through one-on-one traditions lovingly known as 'Your Special Day,'" the note continued. "These treasured moments remain among the fondest memories for all fourteen of her grandchildren."
Refinery29
3 hours ago
- Refinery29
'I'm Not Afraid Any More.' Joy Sunday On Wednesday & Growth Between Seasons
Joy Sunday glides into the lobby of The Whitby Hotel in New York City's midtown donning a caramel corset and flouncy Emilio Pucci mini skirt. Sunday's presence and her features are strikingly captivating, but she doesn't need the striped blazer or greenish-blue contacts she wears to suit up for her role as Bianca Barclay on Netflix's Wednesday to turn heads in real life. It's clear that Sunday's confidence gives life to Bianca, the siren with the power to mesmerize and persuade even the most strong-willed. Bianca is Sunday's first role as a main character in a TV series. And with the show being Netflix's most watched English language original series ever, she hit the ground running. Now going into a new season — the first four episodes premiere today, Wednesday, August 6 — Sunday assures you, me, and everyone else watching that she isn't stopping. At all. 'I'm being very strategic about how I'm moving forward, because I'm not losing this platform,' the 28-year-old New York native said matter of factly. 'I'm taking it to the end, and I want to take others with me. It's not a threat, but it's a promise.' ' I'm taking it to the end, and I want to take others with me. It's not a threat, but it's a promise. joy sunday on acting beyond 'wednesday' ' In Season 1, we're introduced to Bianca as a popular student at Nevermore Academy who has control over her powers, despite the mistrust she faces from others, including her ex. When Wednesday (Jenna Ortega) shows up, they share a brief rivalry before Bianca joins her investigation into the mayor's death. Season 2 goes deeper into Bianca's vulnerability, Sunday explained. Bianca's past comes back to haunt her and she begins reckoning with her relationship with her mother, a siren who uses her powers to scam and wants her daughter to follow suit. 'In Season 2, she's trying to hide herself and conceal what's going on in the background, and so she's really having to come to terms with what she really didn't want to do in Season 1,' Sunday said. 'Now she's being forced to [be a] more compassionate individual. Because that's something that she judged her mom, Gabrielle (Gracy Goldman), for so heavily in Season 1, and that now she finds herself in the same position.' Addressing motherhood wounds plays a huge part in Season 2 overall. Viewers will see most of the main characters' relationships with their moms, for better or worse. As Bianca navigates her own challenges at school, she's now faced with the task of protecting Gabrielle, a theme the teen experienced in their relationship growing up. Sunday said she appreciates the duo's redemptive arc and the opportunity to find healing for them. ' Young Black women are forced to mature faster than anyone else is to understand their relationship to the world... I think that's why it's so special to get to see Bianca need help and to eventually learn to ask for it. joy sunday ' Despite this being a fantastical world, Sunday believes that forgiveness is important to see. Especially for Black girls who often have to mature faster than others. 'Young Black women are forced to mature faster than anyone else is to understand their relationship to the world and to the family, how the world sees them and how they see themselves,' Sunday passionately stated. 'I think that's why it's so special to get to see Bianca need help and to eventually learn to ask for it. And it's also nice to see people come to her aid without her asking for it, and to see people advocate for her as well.' Though Bianca's confidence may have wavered a bit since the first season, Sunday's has only grown. Three years ago when Wednesday first premiered, Sunday was still new to doing press runs and red carpets. 'I almost felt like I needed to play a role or to fit in terms of how I was presenting myself,' she admitted. That feeling has faded as she's gotten her reps in for projects like Rise (2023) and Under The Influencer (2024). But with the writers and actors strike in 2023 and a shaky Hollywood economy, Sunday admits that work hasn't been as steady. Thankfully, becoming a global ambassador for Lancome has helped sustain her and her family. 'It's been a journey of working my way back to this feeling of confidence and this feeling of, I've got some shit to do,' she explained. 'I've been through trials and tribulations, but I think it's really an important part of the actor's journey to share that it's not always going to be the 'hurry up.' Sometimes it's going to be the 'wait.'' This isn't looking like a 'wait' season for Sunday, however. In February, Deadline announced that the actor would be joining the HBO limited series DTF St. Louis. And ahead of its Season 2 premiere, Netflix renewed Wednesday for a third season. Going forward, Sunday is prepared to show the industry more of what she's made of. She's eyeing more fantasy and supernatural roles and some action. (She's specifically manifesting Interview With the Vampire and Ghost Dog 2.) In this era, Sunday knows she's more than good. 'I feel empowered to say I am that much more extensive of an artist, and I'm not afraid to show that,' she said. 'In Season 1, I was kind of afraid of having to fit in the boxes. I wanted to make sure that everything would go well, but I'm not afraid any more. I'm excited.'
