Inside The Cosby Show 'curse' after Theo star Malcom-Jamal Warner's tragic death
Built on humour, tough love and moral messages, The Cosby Show, amassed a legion of loyal fans during its eight-year tenure. Introducing us to the Huxtables: the doctor/lawyer duo of Heathcliff and Clair and their five impossibly well-behaved kids – Sondra, Denise, Theo, Vanessa and Rudy, the programme picked up a number of awards and earned itself icon status.
However, off-screen, it was struck by tragedy, including heartbreaking deaths and a shocking murder. Its star Bill Crosby was also sentenced - then released from prison in 2021 - when charges against him of sexual assault, which he denied, were overturned.
Most recently, the show has lost its star, Malcom-Jamal Warner, who played the adorable, Theo Huxtable, who appeared in all eight seasons of the show and received an Emmy nomination for his role in 1986.
So, as the much-loved actor's family and fans are left reeling by his loss, here's a look inside the so-called 'curse' of The Crosby Show, starting with the murder of Bill Crosby's only son...
Bill Crosby's only son murdered
On January 16, 1997, Bill Crosby's only son, Ennis Cosby, 27, pulled his car over to the side of a Los Angeles motorway to change a tire and was brutally gunned down by Mikhail Markhasev during a failed robbery.
Ennis, who provided his father with endless material for jokes and helped inform the character of Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show, was on holiday in L.A. when he got a flat tire. As he worked to change it, 18-year-old Markhasev tried to rob him — and shot him instead.
In his first interview weeks after his son's murder, Bill revealed that Ennia had been buried in a garden at the family's home in Massachusetts.
He said: "I've always imagined if somebody killed one of my kids, I mean, I would go get five 357 magnums. Then you start to think about the person that you love who's gone, and then that part of them comes to you and says, 'Hey dad, you have to go back to work.' And you start to laugh. His spirit from there wouldn't allow us to walk off and be anything other than what he wants our family."
Michelle Thomas dies aged 30
Actress, Michelle Thomas, played Theo Huxtable's girlfriend Justine Phillips on The Cosby Show from 1988 until 1990 and dated the actor in real life for for six years, amicably ending things in 1994.
In August 1997, Michelle was diagnosed with a rare form of stomach cancer. After doctors removed the tumour the from her abdomen, she was expected to make a full recovery.
However, in October 1998, she had to take a medical leave from the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless, needing emergency surgery following the rupture of a second cancerous growth.
She tragically died at the age of 30 on December 23, 1998, with Warner by her bedside in her final days. Heartbreakingly, Michelle's mother later called the Theo Huxtable star the love of her daughter's life.
Geoffrey Owen's financial woes
In 2018, a photo surfaced of Elvin Tibideaux star Geoffrey Owens working at a Trader Joe's in New Jersey. He took the job after being unable to support himself on his acting.
After being slammed by fans for his 'fall from grace' he later quit, saying: "I wasn't going to be able to handle that scrutiny, that kind of attack on my privacy. But Trader Joe's was a wonderful job."
Geoffrey explained that his residual cheques from The Cosby Show, in which he only appeared a handful of times, had run out.
However, his fortune began to change when director, Tyler Perry invited him to come work on one of his own dramas, tweeting, "Come join us!!! I have so much respect for people who hustle between gigs. The measure of a true artist."
Geoffrey he has had steady acting work since, including major shows such as Power, New Amsterdam, and, this year, the Netflix series The Night Agent.
Malcom-Jamal Warner dies by 'accidental drowning'
On Monday (July 21), it was announced that Malcolm, who played Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show, had died at the age of 54. The actor, who had a wife and daughter, reportedly died as a result of an accidental drowning, with Costa Rican National Police claiming that he drowned off the coast of Costa Rica on Sunday and that his official cause of death was asphyxia. Police believe that he was caught by a high current in the water and was discovered on Sunday afternoon.
News of his sudden death sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry, prompting a wave of tributes from colleagues, co-stars, and fellow performers.
Jamie Foxx and Beyoncé were among the first stars to honour the actor, sharing a brief but heartfelt message on Instagram.
"Speechless on this one rest in power, my brother," Jamie captioned his tribute.
Meanwhile, Beyonce posted a statement to her website that read: "Rest in Power, Malcolm-Jamal Warner. Thanks for being a big part of our shared television history. You will be missed."
Bill Cosby's representative, Andrew Wyatt, revealed to TMZ that when Bill received the call about Malcolm's passing, it instantly reminded him of the moment he was told his son Ennis Cosby had been fatally shot during a botched robbery whilst he was in the studio filming.
Wyatt explained that Malcolm's death had an identical impact on Bill as his son's murder. He also explained how the Resident star used to play with Ennis during their childhood and "were amazing together".
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