Malcolm-Jamal Warner's cause of death confirmed, second man fully recovered
"The Cosby Show" star died from an accidental drowning, Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Department confirmed to USA TODAY on July 24.
A second adult man, who was involved in the same incident as Warner, and reportedly attempted to save him, was transported to a Costa Rican clinic in critical condition on Sunday, July 20, the Costa Rican Red Cross confirmed to USA TODAY on July 22. The man, a 29-year-old native of Nicaragua, made a full recovery and was released from the hospital, People and the Los Angeles Times report.
Warner was rescued by bystanders and taken to shore, where he received treatment from the Costa Rican Red Cross, per the agency, but he was declared dead at the scene. He was then transported to the morgue for an autopsy.
Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who starred as Theo on 'Cosby Show,' dies in drowning at 54
The beach in Costa Rica where the men were found, is known for strong rip currents and a sometimes dangerous surf, The New York Times reported. On the day of the drowning, it was also unprotected by lifeguards.
In addition to eight seasons on the hit NBC sitcom as Theo, son of Bill Cosby's Cliff Huxtable and Phylicia Rashad's Clair Huxtable, Warner was also known for his role as Malcolm McGee in the 1990s UPN sitcom "Malcolm & Eddie" and as Dr. AJ Austin on the Fox medical drama "The Resident" from 2018 to 2023.
In the 2010s, Warner had notable recurring roles on the NBC comedy "Community," playing the ex of Yvette Nicole Brown's Shirley Bennett. He also portrayed the character Sticky, the vice president of motorcycle club The Grim Bastards, on FX's "Sons of Anarchy."
Malcolm-Jamal Warner's notable shows and movies, from 'The Cosby Show' to 'The Resident'
News of his death prompted an outpouring of love from former co-stars, with Cosby himself calling him "a great studier," and fellow "9-1-1" star Jennifer Love Hewitt, calling him "a gentleman" and "incredible talent."
Tracee Ellis Ross also reflected on working with Warner on the BET sitcom "Reed Between the Lines," writing: "My heart is so so sad. What an actor and friend you were: warm, gentle, present, kind, thoughtful, deep, funny, elegant."
Contributing: Taijuan Moorman, Bryan Alexander
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Malcolm-Jamal Warner's death confirmed as drowning in Costa Rica
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Woman dead, 6 injured after crash in Vaughan, police say
A woman is dead and six people were injured after a two-vehicle collision in Vaughan on Saturday night, York Regional Police say. Police, fire and paramedics responded to the collision around 11 p.m. near Highway 27 and Rutherford Road, police said in a post on X. One of the cars was on fire and all occupants exited that vehicle, the post read. The victim, 69, was a passenger in one of the vehicles, police said. The six people who were injured have been taken to local hospitals. The intersection will be closed for several hours for the investigation.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Coastguard releases statement after four bodies found below cliffs in four days
The Coastguard has issued a statement after four bodies were found below cliffs in four days. Whitby Coastguard Rescue Team has attended three incidents this week that have seen four people pronounced dead along the North Yorkshire coast. Between Wednesday (July 30) and Saturday (August 2), four bodies were recovered from below cliffs near Whitby Abbey and Sandsend. Police have confirmed none of the incidents are connected, and none are being treated as suspicious. Coroner's reports are being prepared for each case. Whitby Coastguard Rescue Team has issued a statement following a series of incidents that have seen four people lose their lives along the coast in recent days. (Image: WHITBY COASTGUARD) In the wake of the tragedies, Whitby Coastguard this heartfelt statement: 'As many of our local followers will be aware, over the past few days, Whitby Coastguard Rescue Team has been called to several deeply tragic incidents in our local area. "Despite the very best efforts of all involved, sadly, not every outcome can be changed. Our heartfelt thoughts are with the families and loved ones affected — we hope they find strength, comfort, and support in the days ahead. "We'd like to extend our sincere thanks to our partner agencies who responded alongside us, and to every one of our Coastguard Rescue Officers who attended. These kinds of incidents are never easy, but they highlight the strength, professionalism, and compassion of our volunteers. "As a team, we support each other through the difficult days as well as the routine ones — and we remain here 24/7, ready to serve our coastline and community with care and commitment. "Remember, if you see anything that suggests someone may be in trouble at the coast, be it physically or mental health related, please do not hesitate to call 999 and ask for Coastguard. You are never wasting our time or resources, we are here to help.' On Wednesday evening, a man and a woman were found on the rocks beneath Whitby Abbey after a 999 call at 7.16pm. Both were confirmed dead at the scene. Less than 24 hours later, at 12.53pm on Thursday, the body of a woman in her 60s was discovered below the same cliffs. Emergency services, including mountain rescue and lifeboat crews, recovered her body during high tide. Her death is also being treated as non-suspicious. Her family has been informed. On Saturday morning, a fourth body - a woman in her 50s from the local area - was found beneath the cliffs at Sandsend. She was recovered by emergency teams just before 1pm. Her death, like the others, is not being treated as suspicious. READ MORE: Woman's body found below cliffs in fourth tragic death in area in just four days Woman 'dies in fall' near Abbey after two others found in same spot day before Man and woman found dead at bottom of cliff at Whitby Abbey Police are continuing to appeal for witnesses in all four incidents. Anyone with information is urged to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, quoting reference numbers: 12250141734 (July, 30 incident), 12250142097 (July, 31 incident) and 12250143585 (August, 2 incident) Whitby Coastguard is urging the public to stay vigilant and reach out for help if they suspect someone is in danger.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
DUI arrest after fiery crash on I-15 injures several
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — An overturned Jeep engulfed in flames brought traffic to a stand-still following a DUI collision in Escondido Saturday night. The fiery accident occurred on the northbound Interstate 15 on-ramp to eastbound State Route 78 at around 6:26 p.m., according to California Highway Patrol (CHP). Suspect at large after woman jogging sexually battered in East County According to CHP, the driver of an SUV was driving recklessly going more than 100 miles per hour. After reportedly veering across the area between the roadway and the SR-78 on-ramp, the SUV struck a Jeep, causing it to roll over and burst into flames. Two people were removed from the Jeep by a good samaritan and taken to the hospital with minor injuries. The driver of the SUV and a child passenger were also transported for minor injuries, with a police officer accompanying the driver. Following treatment, the driver of the SUV was arrested for felony DUI and booked into the Vista Detention Facility. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
