Malcolm-Jamal Warner's 8-Year-Old Daughter Was Swimming with Him, Pulled to Safety on Surfboard by Surfer
The 54-year-old actor, who was best known for his role as Theo Huxtable in The Cosby Show, died on Sunday, July 20, while on a family vacation with his wife and daughter, whose names have not been revealed to the public. The police told ABC News that surfers spotted Warner and his daughter struggling in the water and dove in to try and help them.
One surfer reportedly used his board to pull Warner's daughter to safety, while a volunteer lifeguard assisted in helping bring the actor and another surfer to the shore. The outlet noted that on the shore, Warner was given 45 minutes of CPR. Both surfers who helped Warner and his daughter survived the incident.
On Wednesday, July 23, Dr. Mauricio Sonalo Corella, the Medical Director for the Talamanca Health Area, confirmed to PEOPLE that a man trying to help Warner had been discharged from the hospital after receiving treatment 'without complications.'
Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
The Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) confirmed to PEOPLE that the actor's autopsy was completed on Tuesday, July 22, which showed that he died from accidental asphyxiation by submersion. This comes one day after a source told PEOPLE that Warner was body surfing in the water during a family trip in Costa Rica at the time of his death.
Although the late actor kept much of his private life out of the spotlight, he had previously posted pictures expressing how much he loved his only child. Warner never publicly shared his daughter's name or birthdate and kept the identity of his wife private, but he called their child their "mini us" in a 2021 Instagram post.
Warner also posted a throwback video of him dancing with his daughter when she was a baby and noted how fast she had grown up in 2023.
"Yoooo! Y'all remember this? Man, time flies! I was playing this song in the car over the weekend and my baby didn't even remember it," he wrote at the time. "We used to play it all the time when she was 1. Had to go back and find this post to show her. I'm happy to say that this beautiful song is now back in rotation."
https://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf
Warner began his career as an actor playing Theo Huxtable, the only son of Bill Cosby's character, Heathcliff Huxtable, in The Cosby Show from 1984 to 1992.
He went on to star alongside Eddie Griffin in the sitcom Malcolm & Eddie from 1996 to 2000, and he was also well known for his role as Alex Reed on Reed Between the Lines, which he starred in alongside Tracee Ellis Ross from 2011 to 2015.
In the days before his death, Warner remained busy hosting his podcast, Not All Hood, which he started in May 2024. He co-hosted alongside Weusi Baraka and Candace Kelley.
'When we talk about the Black community, we tend to speak of it as a monolith when the reality is there are so many different facets of the Black community, and we wanted to have a space where we can really explore, discuss, and acknowledge all of those different aspects,' he told PEOPLE of his hopes for the podcast before its launch.
Read the original article on People
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
3 critically injured after amusement park ride snaps in Saudi Arabia: Reports
An amusement park in Saudi Arabia was shut down after a ride collapsed and injured at least 23 people, local media reported. The "360 Big Pendulum," located in the Al Hada district of Taif, a popular mountain resort city in western Saudi Arabia, snapped and crashed violently while in operation during the evening of July 30, the Khaleej Times and state-owned Arab News reported. Video footage of the accident, circulating widely on social media, shows the fully occupied ride swinging in a large arc before experiencing a structural failure in its central column, prompting it to split horizontally while in motion. As a result, the part of the ride holding the strapped passengers crashed to the ground, amid screams and calls for help. 3 people critically injured: reports Taif Governor Prince Saud bin Nahar bin Saud bin Abdulaziz, in a statement, ordered the immediate closure of the resort and called for an investigation into the incident, reported the Saudi Gazette. Authorities expect the preliminary findings to be released in the coming days. 'Several injuries occurred; some were treated at the site, while others were transferred to hospital care,' the statement read. No fatalities were reported. However, Arab News, citing emergency teams, reported the victims sustained varying injuries, with three people in critical condition. While some of the injured were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment, others received aid on the scene, according to Gulf News. Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@ and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Amusement park ride in Saudi Arabia snaps, crashes, reports say Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Malcolm-Jamal Warner Spent His Final Moments Swimming With His Daughter Before Tragically Drowning
Heartbreaking new details are emerging surrounding the death of "Cosby Show" actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who drowned in Costa Rica in July 2025. Malcolm-Jamal Warner Was Swimming With His Young Daughter Before Drowning In Costa Rica According to ABC News, police told the publication that Warner, who starred in "The Cosby Show" from 1984 to 1992, was swimming with his daughter, 8, in Costa Rica when he suddenly drowned. The report further states that surfers in the area spotted Warner and his daughter in distress in the water and rushed in to offer aid. The surfers reportedly brought both Warner and his daughter to shore, where the actor, who was 54, received 45 minutes of CPR. A spokesperson from the Forensic Pathology Department later confirmed through an autopsy that Warner's cause of death was "asphyxiation by submersion," ruling it accidental. Malcolm-Jamal Warner Kept His Daughter And Wife Out Of The Spotlight The new report regarding Warner's final moments with his daughter is particularly poignant because the actor, who also went on to win a Grammy for spoken word poetry, tried his hardest to keep his immediate family out of the spotlight. During a previous appearance on the "Hot & Bothered" podcast, Warner opened up about not initially wanting to get married or have children; however, a date with his wife changed his perspective. "At some point, I was like, if I'm going to have a kid, this is the person that I would want to have it with," Warner said. "I also realized that if something happened and we weren't together romantically, she would still be the person I would want to raise a child with, co-parent with." Warner also discussed his desire to keep their identities private, saying, "I talk about my wife and daughter, but obviously I don't post them." He continued, "I talk about them because they are obviously the hugest parts of my life, the best parts of my life, the best decisions I've ever made, but I also like to keep them and their identity private." Fans Are Heartbroken Over Malcolm-Jamal Warner's Sudden Passing Warner's sudden passing has left fans struggling to come to terms with the news, resulting in an outpouring of tribute posts across the internet. One commenter wrote on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, "I cannot even believe this. I am over here SOBBING." Someone else wrote, "I think what hurts most about Malcolm-Jamal Warner is that he was a GOOD person. A good human being. You never heard anything negative about him." Another user shared an emotional post, calling Warner a "gentle giant." They added, "Today, we lost a gentle giant. A man who won our hearts not by force, but by quiet grace. From the very beginning, Malcolm-Jamal Warner reminded us that being calm, classy, sophisticated, and soulful could carry you far in life." Celebrities Share Their Emotional Reactions To The Unfortunate News And Warner's fans aren't the only ones finding the news difficult. Several of Warner's co-stars, such as Raven-Symoné, who joined the cast of "The Cosby Show" in 1989, have also shared their heartfelt tributes. In the video, Symoné, 39, can be heard sharing an emotional message about Warner over a black screen that featured the words, "I love you." "Words cannot describe the pain and the sadness and surprise that I feel with the recent loss of MJW," Symoné said. "He was the big brother, he was a beacon, he was one of the most multifaceted, talented men. So gentle, and my heart and soul and hugs, and kisses go out to his daughter and his wife, and his mother." "He gave the best advice, he gave the best hugs, and his smile will always be a huge, bright f-cking white smile in my head forever," Symoné continued. "I love you, and I know you're watching over all of us now. Bye, Malcolm." Warner's "Malcolm & Eddie" co-star, Eddie Griffin, shared a similar message in his Instagram Stories, writing, "My Big little brother." Other Celebs Join In Bill Cosby also released a message about Warner's passing through his representative, comparing the loss to the death of his own son, Ennis Cosby, who was killed in California in 1997. "This reminds me of the call I got when I was taping 'The Cosby Show' and I got a call saying that my son, Ennis, had been murdered," Cosby's rep shared. "It's just devastating."
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Confusion Mounts As Conflicting Statements Emerge In Malcolm-Jamal Warner's Death
Conflicting accounts are surfacing in the aftermath of 's tragic death in Costa Rica, with a local police chief standing firm on his claim that the beloved actor drowned while trying to save his young daughter. Warner, best known for his role as Theo Huxtable on "The Cosby Show," died on July 20 at age 54 after being caught in a powerful rip current while swimming off Cocles Beach in Limón. Initial reports from authorities indicated that Malcolm-Jamal Warner had been in the water with his eight-year-old daughter when the tragedy struck, and that surfers rushed to help bring them to shore. Police Chief Doubles Down On Malcolm-Jamal Warner Claim Now, Elberth León, Chief of the Tourist Police of the Atlantic Region, is doubling down on that version of events despite conflicting statements from Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ). 'I responded to the incident and I know what I saw,' León told Us Weekly on July 28. 'The Red Cross also treated the girl [on site] and she didn't need to go to the clinic.' However, the OIJ released a separate account last Thursday, saying Warner's daughter was 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,' their statement read. 'It was at that moment that they were swept away by the current, and the friend managed to get out. However, Mr. Warner was unable to get out and was pulled out by several people on the beach.' His Cause Of Death Revealed Red Cross officials confirmed they treated two adult men who were pulled from the water that day. One was transported in critical condition to a nearby clinic, while Warner was given CPR on the beach but tragically pronounced dead at the scene. The OIJ later confirmed Warner's autopsy was completed on July 22, ruling his cause of death as 'asphyxia due to submersion.' His death has been classified as accidental. Bill Cosby Recalls Malcolm-Jamal Warner's Work Ethic In Resurfaced Interview In a resurfaced interview with CBS News' Jericka Duncan, Bill Cosby praised Warner's dedication to his craft, remembering the late actor as someone who always took his work seriously. 'He was never afraid to go to his room and study and make sure he followed whatever he had learned in the acting school he went to,' Cosby recalled. Warner himself often spoke about the significance, and later the loss, of "The Cosby Show"'s cultural weight. In a 2015 interview with the Associated Press, amid the sexual assault allegations against Cosby, Warner admitted he was heartbroken by the show's fall from grace. 'The fact that we no longer have that, that's the thing that saddens me the most because in a few generations the Huxtables will have been just a fairy tale,' he said at the time. Years later, Warner doubled down on that sentiment in an interview with CBS News Pittsburgh, reflecting on the show's enduring global reach. 'That show had such an impact on the culture here in America but also a global impact on how, you know, Black people saw ourselves globally and how the rest of the world saw us,' Warner explained. 'So I'm proud to have been part of that legacy, and it's been a great ride ever since.' Angelique Bates Heartbroken Over Her Former Co-Star's Death Actress Angelique Bates has shared an emotional tribute to Warner, exclusively telling The Blast that the late actor was her 'only true hero' in Hollywood. Bates reflected on how Warner's kindness and courage left a lasting mark on her life, especially during a difficult period in her childhood acting career. She said the news of his sudden passing at 54 has left her heartbroken. "This morning, I woke up to the devastating news that I've lost the only true hero I've ever had in this twisted industry," she expressed. " I still can't believe I'm even writing these words. Malcolm-Jamal Warner's name is the very last one I ever imagined hearing in this context." Raven-Symoné Pays Heartfelt Tribute To Malcolm-Jamal Warner Raven-Symoné is also grieving the loss of her former "Cosby Show" co-star, Warner. On July 22, the actress, 39, shared a simple yet powerful tribute on Instagram, posting a black screen with the words 'I love you' alongside a dove emoji. The understated message spoke volumes, reflecting the deep bond she shared with Warner and the heartbreak she feels in the wake of his sudden passing. RIP.
