22-07-2025
Malcolm-Jamal Warner's Cause of Death Revealed After Costa Rica Drowning
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Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who drowned on Sunday while on vacation with his family in Costa Rica, died of asphyxia, ABC News reported.
Newsweek reached out to Warner's representative via email for comment on Tuesday.
The Context
Warner, 54, skyrocketed to fame on The Cosby Show in the 1980s. He played Theodore "Theo" Huxtable, the only son of Bill Cosby's character, Heathcliff Huxtable, from 1984 to 1992. His time on the hit sitcom earned him an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 1986.
In addition to The Cosby Show, Warner's well-known credits include Malcolm & Eddie, which he starred in from 1996 to 2000. He was also a fixture on Reed Between the Lines, alongside Tracee Ellis Ross, from 2011 to 2015.
Malcolm-Jamal Warner attends SCAD aTVfest 2020 - In Conversation With Malcolm-Jamal Warner on February 29, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Malcolm-Jamal Warner attends SCAD aTVfest 2020 - In Conversation With Malcolm-Jamal Warner on February 29, 2020 in Atlanta, SCAD aTVfest 2020
What To Know
The Costa Rican National Police shared Warner's official cause of death as asphyxia after he was caught by a rip current while swimming.
In a press release sent to Newsweek, Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Department said Warner died near Cocles, a beach in Limon, Costa Rica. Despite bystanders pulling him to shore, where he received medical attention, he was declared dead by the Costa Rican Red Cross.
What People Are Saying
In an interview with ABC News following Warner's death, Bill Cosby, 88, said: "He was always a great studier, and I enjoyed working with him very much... He was very professional. He always knew his part... He always knew his lines, and he always knew where to go."
The Cosby Show star Geoffrey Owens said in a statement to Deadline: "This tragedy has almost left me speechless. Malcolm was a lovely man; a sweet and sensitive soul. I respected him for many reasons, including the fact that he genuinely loved the act of creation. He had the mind of an actor and the heart of a musician. He was generous, too. I did a theater project long ago and asked him to participate; and he was there for me. My heart goes out to his family."
Tracee Ellis Ross shared a tribute to her co-star on Instagram: "I love you, Malcolm. First I met you as Theo with the rest of the world then you were my first TV husband. My heart is so so sad. What an actor and friend you were: warm, gentle, present, kind, thoughtful, deep, funny, elegant. You made the world a brighter place. Sending so much love to your family. I'm so sorry for this unimaginable loss."
Beyoncé posted a statement to her website, alongside a black-and-white photo of Warner: "Rest in power, Malcolm-Jamal Warner. Thanks for being a big part of our shared television history. You will be missed."
Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson posted a joint statement with his wife, Cookie Johnson, on X: "Cookie and I are sad to hear about the passing of our dear friend Malcolm-Jamal Warner. We were both super fans of the hit Cosby Show and continued to follow his career on shows like Malcolm and Eddie and The Resident. Every time I ran into Malcolm, we would have deep and fun conversations about basketball, life, and business. He will truly be missed. Cookie and I are praying his family and close friends during this difficult time."
Boxing icon Mike Tyson wrote on X: "Sad to hear about Malcolm-Jamal Warner. RIP to someone that has filled our homes with so much joy. Another reminder tomorrow isn't promised."
What Happens Next
Warner is survived by his wife and daughter, whose names he never publicly disclosed.
