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Malcolm-Jamal Warner released emotional podcast with 'Cosby Show' costar before his death
A month before his death, "The Cosby Show" star Malcolm-Jamal Warner released an emotional podcast episode with costar Keshia Knight Pulliam in which they discussed the groundbreaking show and their spiritual practices.
Warner, who reportedly died July 20 from drowning while vacationing with his family in Costa Rica, spoke with his "Not All Hood" podcast co-host, Candace O. Kelley, and Knight Pulliam for their Season 2 premiere on June 19. When asked about the end of "The Cosby Show," both Warner and Knight Pulliam's eyes welled up.
"We were all ready to just kind of move on. So I was cool with finishing the last episode and everyone saying bye. I was so cool, had no emotions," Warner said. "And then I saw Keshia started crying, and then I started crying."
"He's stuck with me for life," Knight Pulliam said.
For eight years, Warner played Theodore "Theo" Huxtable, the son of Cliff and Clair Huxtable – played by Bill Cosby and Phylicia Rashad – on the hit NBC sitcom. Knight Pulliam played his youngest sister, Rudy Huxtable.
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Malcolm-Jamal Warner opens up about his daughter
As Warner and Knight Pulliam reflected on their journeys as child stars and the importance of filtering out negative energies, staying grounded and grateful, Warner said, "Gratitude begets gratitude."
Their daughters are around three months apart, Warner said, and "They love each other."
"It's so surreal to me that we have this kind of relationship as parents, and we see our next generation have this bond at such a young age," he added.
The most recent episode of the podcast, featuring guest Tameka "Georgia Me" Harper, was released July 18.
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Malcolm-Jamal Warner was 'steeped in poetry in the womb'
Warner was nominated for a 2023 Grammy award for best spoken word poetry album for 2022's "Hiding in Plain View." In 2022, he appeared on New York City Public Radio's "All of It with Allison Stewart" to talk about his album.
When asked about his first memory of poetry, Warner said he has been around poetry "his entire life," and that his father attended Lincoln University because poet and activist Langston Hughes had done the same.
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"I was steeped in poetry in the womb," Warner said, laughing.
In 2015, Warner was part of a team that won a Grammy for best traditional R&B performance, awarded for their cover of Stevie Wonder's "Jesus Children Of America."
Contributing: Taijuan Moorman, Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY
