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The Guardian
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Malcolm-Jamal Warner obituary
Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who has died aged 54, having drowned while swimming off the coast of Costa Rica, gained fame worldwide as the cool, charming, occasionally mischievous son of Bill Cosby in one of American television's most popular sitcoms. The Cosby Show, which ran between 1985 and 1992, was groundbreaking in featuring an affluent African American family in Brooklyn, New York: Cosby starred as Cliff Huxtable, an obstetrician, and Phylicia Rashad as his wife, Clair, a lawyer, with Warner as their middle child, Theo, and Sabrina Le Beauf, Lisa Bonet, Tempestt Bledsoe and Keishia Knight Pulliam as their daughters. Cliff and Clair were portrayed as loving and nurturing, but strict, parents. When auditioning for the role of Theo during the final round of a nationwide search, Warner was far from what Cosby – who co-created the sitcom – wanted. 'They were looking for a 6ft 2in 15-year-old,' he recalled, 'and I was 5ft 5in and 13. I played those scenes like you see kids on television, kind of smart-alecky, and when Cliff said something, I got my hand on my hips and [was] rolling my eyes.' Cosby was unimpressed. 'Would you really talk to your father like that?' he asked. 'No,' said Warner. 'Well, I don't want to see that on this show,' said the star. Warner was given a second chance, and over the sitcom's eight-year run – during which it won six Emmy awards and a nomination for Warner's performance – he became a role model for teenagers, sharing his tips on coping with adolescence in a book, Theo and Me: Growing Up Okay (1988). The Cosby Show's final episode finished with Theo's graduation from New York University, and Warner left with a sense of pride in the legacy left by the programme for its depiction of both race and class. He later lamented that this was tainted by allegations of sexual assault and sexual harassment made against Cosby. 'That's the thing that saddens me the most,' Warner said in 2015, 'because in a few generations the Huxtables will have been just a fairy tale. The legacy can't help but be tarnished.' The son of Pamela (nee McGee) and Robert Warner, who worked in drug intervention programmes, he was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, and named after the civil rights activist Malcolm X and the jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal. He and his mother moved to Los Angeles following his parents' divorce. His first television appearances were in episodes of the private investigator drama Matt Houston (in 1982) and in the performing arts school series Fame (in 1983), before he landed the part of Theo in The Cosby Show. While the series was running, he attended the Professional Children's school in New York. He also reprised his role as Theo in the spin-off A Different World (in 1988 and 1989) and guest-starred in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (in 1990 and 1991), playing the boyfriend of a cousin of Will Smith's streetwise teenager. Warner remained busy on television, popping up in guest roles in many series, but also starring in two sitcoms: with Eddie Griffin as chalk-and-cheese flat-sharers and business partners in Malcolm & Eddie (1996-2000) and as Dr Alex Reed, a professor married to a psychologist in a blended family, in Reed Between the Lines (2011-15). He also played the cynical but compassionate Kurdy Malloy, assisting Luke Perry's title character, in the post-apocalyptic action series Jeremiah (2002-04); Lieutenant Chuck Cooper in the police procedural Major Crimes (from 2013 to 2016); Julius Rowe, a prison psychologist, in Suits (from 2016 to 2017); and AJ Austin, a gifted but volatile surgeon, in the hospital drama The Resident (2018-23). In films, he appeared as a thug in Fool's Gold (2008), alongside Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson. As a director, he went behind the camera for The Resident and other programmes, as well as music videos for New Edition and Five Star. With the band Miles Long, Warner played the bass guitar and recited poetry over the music for several EP and album releases. He shared a 2013 Grammy with the Robert Glasper Experiment and Lalah Hathaway for his spoken-word contribution to a cover of the Stevie Wonder song Jesus Children of America, recorded as a memorial to the victims of the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting in Connecticut. Warner was married and had a daughter. They survive him. Malcolm-Jamal Warner, actor and musician, born 18 August 1970; died 20 July 2025
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Bill Cosby Breaks Silence On Malcolm-Jamal Warner's Tragic Death
Former TV Dad Bill Cosby is speaking out after the death of Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who played his son, Theo, on the popular 1980s sitcom 'The Cosby Show.' Warner died this past weekend of accidental drowning off the coast of Limon, Costa Rica. He was 54. After the news broke, Cosby told People through his spokesman, Andrew Wyatt, that Warner's death 'reminded him of the same call he received' in 1997 when his only son, Ennis William Cosby, was murdered during an attempted robbery on a Los Angeles freeway ramp. Wyatt said Warner and Ennis played together when they were young and that Cosby and Warner 'spoke all the time' before his death. ADVERTISEMENT 'He found a way to talk about Malcolm even though he was sad,' Wyatt said of Cosby, adding that the actor has spent time reminiscing about Warner with his former TV wife Phylicia Rashad. In addition, Wyatt told the New York Post that Cosby told him he considered his relationship with his younger co-stars important to him. 'While I was their TV dad, I never stopped being a father to them,' Wyatt quoted Cosby. Cosby did a phone interview with CBS News reporter Jericka Duncan where he praised Warner's work ethic. 'He was never afraid to go to his room and study. He knew his lines and that he was quite comfortable even with the growing pains of being a teenager,' Cosby said, adding that he and Warner last spoke three months ago. Although Warner did remain in contact with Cosby, there were challenges after the comedian was accused of rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment by more than 60 women. ADVERTISEMENT Cosby was the first celebrity tried and convicted in the #MeToo era and spent nearly three years at a state prison near Philadelphia before a higher court overturned the conviction and released him in 2021. In a 2015 interview with HuffPost, Warner compared Cosby's situation to those of Woody Allen and Roman Polanski, who have both faced allegations of their own. 'When we talk about Woody Allen, we don't talk about his controversy. When we talk about Roman Polanski now, that's no longer part of the conversation. So if that's how it goes, then I hope the same will be of 'The Cosby Show,'' Warner said. A few months later, in an interview with BET, Warner took the same mindset toward Allen and Polanski, but noted 'It's very clear the crimes they've committed, but there's no one who's calling for Woody's movies to be pulled off the air.' Still, he admitted he couldn't defend his former co-star's offscreen actions. ADVERTISEMENT 'I am in no position to defend [Cosby], because I can't,' he said. 'Nor will I throw him under the bus,' he added. Related...
CNN
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Malcolm-Jamal Warner's role on ‘The Cosby Show' made him family to the Black community. They are mourning him as such
Some celebrity deaths hit the Black community differently. Such is the case with the passing of Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who died Sunday at age 54 in a drowning accident in Costa Rica, where he was on vacation with his family. Much like the unexpected deaths of Prince, Kobe Bryant and actor Chadwick Boseman, Warner's death is being met in much of the Black community by the type of deep grieving usually reserved for family members. And it feels completely appropriate. Almost from the beginning, the world seemed to know that Warner was special. A child actor who appeared on various series at a young age, he exploded into superstardom when he landed the role of Theo Huxtable as a young teen on 'The Cosby Show.' As is the case with any skilled actor, Warner made the audience forget he was playing a role. It felt to viewers like he was Theo, the sometimes mischievous, but always well-meaning third child of the Huxtable family. Warner stood out in the series with Bill Cosby, starring as the patriarch, and Phylicia Rashad as the matriarch, given that Warner played their characters' only son. Centered around an accomplished and loving Black family, the show became a cultural touchstone for many in Generation X, especially young Black people. Off screen, Warner managed to sidestep the pitfalls and scandals that so many child stars face. After 'The Cosby Show' ended in 1992, Warner went on to other beloved series, including 'Malcom & Eddie,' 'The Resident' and '9-1-1,' an impressive career transition for any actor who has grown up on television. If his success is also measured in esteem from colleagues, Warner had that in excess. Fellow actors and former costars such as Morris Chestnut, who worked with Warner on 'The Resident,' Tracee Ellis Ross, who costarred with him on 'Reed Between the Lines,' and Eddie Griffin, who starred opposite Warner in the sitcom 'Malcolm & Eddie,' have expressed shock and grief over Warner's unexpected death. 'This loss has devastated me,' Warner's 'Community' costar Yvette Nicole Brown shared on social media. 'I don't have the words right now, so I am repurposing these beautiful ones from my dear friend, who I adored,' she wrote in sharing a video of Warner. 'To have him as a friend was a blessing from God. He was one of one.' That sentiment was shared by many. 'The death of Malcolm-Jamal Warner represents a significant cultural loss for the industry and Black audiences, in particular,' Samantha Sheppard, an associate professor of cinema and media studies at Cornell University, told CNN. 'Warner's career is indelibly linked to a program that reshaped the representation of Black middle-class life on network television.' ''The Cosby Show' and its cast have long existed in the shadow of Bill Cosby's widely publicized sexual assault allegations, which have complicated and, in many respects, eclipsed public memory of the show's cultural contributions,' she added. 'This eclipse has too often obscured Warner's evolution as an actor and artist following his years on the popular sitcom, including his work as a poet, musician, and versatile actor across a range of sitcoms and dramas.' Warner reflected on his multifacited career in a 2013 conversation with the Television Academy Foundation. 'I have peace of mind and for me, you can't put a price on that,' Warner said at the time. 'I can definitely say that I feel successful in my post-Cosby life.' Part of that peace was found in the love of his wife and young daughter, who have largely avoided the glare of celebrity life. In a conversation on the'Hot & Bothered with Melyssa Ford' podcast in May, Warner reflected on his 2017 wedding and wanting to build a family with his spouse. 'I've never, never second-guessed it,' Warner said of his marriage. 'There was a moment where I realized when people say, 'When you know, you know,' that's what that feeling is.' He also discussed understanding the importance of legacy, noting that his mother had once told him that 'Mr. [Bill] Cosby gave you immortality.' 'I feel like, okay, there's that legacy there, but then, because I've had this full life after that show, there's another lane of legacy that I get to leave,' Warner reflected. He was clear about how he wanted to remembered. 'There's part of me that I will be able to leave this earth knowing, and people knowing, that I was a good person,' Warner said. It was no act, which is why his community mourns so deeply for the man who was so much more than Theo.
Fox News
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Bill Cosby mourns Malcolm-Jamal Warner after sudden death, says they 'spoke all the time' after show ended
Bill Cosby is mourning the death of his longtime co-star and on-screen son, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who died at the age of 54 while on a family vacation in Costa Rica. Warner, who rose to fame as Theo Huxtable on "The Cosby Show," died on Sunday, July 20, as he left behind a legacy celebrated by his fans and co-stars. Cosby remembered Warner not only as a talented actor but as someone who "was changing humanity." The news of Warner's sudden death "reminded him of the same call he received when his son died," Cosby's rep, Andrew Wyatt, shared with People. Ennis William Cosby, the comedian's only son, was murdered during an attempted robbery in Los Angeles in 1997. He was 27. Warner's character on "The Cosby Show" was loosely based on him. "Malcolm was doing what he loved when he died — he was with his family," Cosby said, according to Wyatt. He also said that he'd stayed in close contact with Warner over the years. "He had just done a concert in Minnesota and called Mr. Cosby and talked about it. They spoke all the time. He said, 'Malcolm was changing humanity,'" Wyatt continued. In the wake of Warner's tragic passing, Cosby and his co-star Phylicia Rashad -- who played his on-screen wife, Clair Huxtable – remembered the beloved actor. "Malcolm was always embracing relationships with everybody he worked with," Cosby recalled during a conversation with the "Today" show. Cosby also reflected on the deep bond he shared with his on-screen son in a conversation with ABC News, describing their connection as one built on mentorship, much like the one he shared with his own grandfather. "He was always a great studier, and I enjoyed working with him very much," Cosby said. As for Warner's work ethic on set, he added, "He was very professional. He always knew his part... He always knew his lines, and he always knew where to go." Reps for Cosby did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for Hollywood stars honored Warner with moving tributes – Jamie Foxx, Beyoncé and Kate Hudson were just a few colleagues who paid respects online to Warner. "Speechless on this one," Foxx shared on Instagram Monday with a photo of "The Resident" star. "Rest in power, my brother." Beyoncé added an image of Warner to her website, and wrote, "Rest in power, Malcolm-Jamal Warner. For being a big part of our shared television history. You will be missed." "Spent time working on a film in Australia with Malcolm and he was the kindest and sweetest," Kate Hudson wrote on her Instagram stories. "My heart is heavy and sending such love to @malcolmjamalwar family." "Heartbroken to hear about the passing of Malcolm-Jamal Warner. Working alongside him on The Resident was an honor," Morris Chestnut shared online. "He brought so much depth, warmth, and wisdom to every scene and every conversation. One of the nicest in the business. Rest easy, brother. Your legacy lives on." "Everyone at Fox is heartbroken by the tragic loss of our friend and colleague, the extraordinary Malcolm-Jamal Warner," the network said in a statement shared with The Associated Press. "While his iconic roles – from comedic to dramatic – are unforgettable and timeless, Malcolm will be remembered most for his warmth, kind heart and the lasting impact he had on his friends, family and fans everywhere. Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with his family and loved ones." Warner's former "9-1-1" co-star Jennifer Love Hewitt posted in her Instagram stories, "I cannot believe this. This hurts my heart. A gentleman, an incredible talent and we were so lucky to have him in the 911 family. Heartbroken and sending love to his family." Tracee Ellis Ross shared a carousel of images with Warner online, and wrote, "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." Viola Davis wrote on Instagram, "I actually am speechless!!!!! No words! Theo was our son, our brother, our friend... He was absolutely so familiar, and we rejoiced at how TV got it right!! But... Malcolm got it right... and now... we reveled in your life and are gutted by this loss. Blessings and prayers to your family and loved ones... We will speak your name—always." Taraji P. Henson admitted Warner's death "hurt" in a post shared online. "Malcolm, we grew up with you," she wrote. "Thank you for the art, the wisdom, the grace you gave us!!!!! You left the world better than you found it. Rest easy, king!!!! Your legacy lives far beyond the screen." Warner co-hosted the "Not All Hood" podcast with Candace Kelly, a platform where different lived experiences were discussed from within the Black community. "We're heartbroken by the unexpected passing of Malcolm-Jamal Warner," the Fanbase network said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital. "On Fanbase, he showed us what it means to be a creator with purpose, Malcolm brought intention, integrity, and brilliance wherever he was. His legacy runs deep and we were honored to witness it. His voice as a Black man in America shaped generations and reminded creators everywhere of the power of speaking truth through their Fanbase community joins the world in mourning his loss and honoring the impact he had on culture. We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and all those who were inspired by his light." Warner was swimming Sunday at Playa Grande de Cocles in the Limon province when a current pulled him into deeper waters, Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Department claimed. "He was rescued by people on the beach," an initial report stated, but first responders could not revive the actor. Warner gained fame as the son of Heathcliff Huxtable, played by Cosby, on "The Cosby Show" from 1984 to 1992. He appeared in all 197 episodes of the NBC sitcom. Cosby's character anchored the Huxtable household with warmth and humor. Warner played his teenage son, Theo Huxtable—a spirited, often mischievous character who navigated the highs and lows of his teenage years. His journey resonated with viewers for its authenticity, as he tackled school struggles and peer pressure with the support and guidance of his TV dad. Their father-son dynamic was often displayed on the beloved sitcom, with their hilarious, yet heartfelt interactions on-screen. In 1986, Warner earned an Emmy nomination for best supporting actor in a comedy. The show's legacy was tarnished after Cosby was accused of sexual assault. Cosby's 2018 conviction was overturned in 2021. Since then, five more women have come forward with accusations against the comedian. Despite the controversy, Warner was still proud of the show. "Regardless of how some people may feel about the show now, I'm still proud of the legacy and having been a part of such an iconic show that had such a profound impact on – first and foremost, Black culture – but also American culture," Warner told People magazine in 2023.
CNN
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Malcolm-Jamal Warner's role on ‘The Cosby Show' made him family to the Black community. They are mourning him as such
Some celebrity deaths hit the Black community differently. Such is the case with the passing of Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who died Sunday at age 54 in a drowning accident in Costa Rica, where he was on vacation with his family. Much like the unexpected deaths of Prince, Kobe Bryant and actor Chadwick Boseman, Warner's death is being met in much of the Black community by the type of deep grieving usually reserved for family members. And it feels completely appropriate. Almost from the beginning, the world seemed to know that Warner was special. A child actor who appeared on various series at a young age, he exploded into superstardom when he landed the role of Theo Huxtable as a young teen on 'The Cosby Show.' As is the case with any skilled actor, Warner made the audience forget he was playing a role. It felt to viewers like he was Theo, the sometimes mischievous, but always well-meaning third child of the Huxtable family. Warner stood out in the series with Bill Cosby, starring as the patriarch, and Phylicia Rashad as the matriarch, given that Warner played their characters' only son. Centered around an accomplished and loving Black family, the show became a cultural touchstone for many in Generation X, especially young Black people. Off screen, Warner managed to sidestep the pitfalls and scandals that so many child stars face. After 'The Cosby Show' ended in 1992, Warner went on to other beloved series, including 'Malcom & Eddie,' 'The Resident' and '9-1-1,' an impressive career transition for any actor who has grown up on television. If his success is also measured in esteem from colleagues, Warner had that in excess. Fellow actors and former costars such as Morris Chestnut, who worked with Warner on 'The Resident,' Tracee Ellis Ross, who costarred with him on 'Reed Between the Lines,' and Eddie Griffin, who starred opposite Warner in the sitcom 'Malcolm & Eddie,' have expressed shock and grief over Warner's unexpected death. 'This loss has devastated me,' Warner's 'Community' costar Yvette Nicole Brown shared on social media. 'I don't have the words right now, so I am repurposing these beautiful ones from my dear friend, who I adored,' she wrote in sharing a video of Warner. 'To have him as a friend was a blessing from God. He was one of one.' That sentiment was shared by many. 'The death of Malcolm-Jamal Warner represents a significant cultural loss for the industry and Black audiences, in particular,' Samantha Sheppard, an associate professor of cinema and media studies at Cornell University, told CNN. 'Warner's career is indelibly linked to a program that reshaped the representation of Black middle-class life on network television.' ''The Cosby Show' and its cast have long existed in the shadow of Bill Cosby's widely publicized sexual assault allegations, which have complicated and, in many respects, eclipsed public memory of the show's cultural contributions,' she added. 'This eclipse has too often obscured Warner's evolution as an actor and artist following his years on the popular sitcom, including his work as a poet, musician, and versatile actor across a range of sitcoms and dramas.' Warner reflected on his multifacited career in a 2013 conversation with the Television Academy Foundation. 'I have peace of mind and for me, you can't put a price on that,' Warner said at the time. 'I can definitely say that I feel successful in my post-Cosby life.' Part of that peace was found in the love of his wife and young daughter, who have largely avoided the glare of celebrity life. In a conversation on the'Hot & Bothered with Melyssa Ford' podcast in May, Warner reflected on his 2017 wedding and wanting to build a family with his spouse. 'I've never, never second-guessed it,' Warner said of his marriage. 'There was a moment where I realized when people say, 'When you know, you know,' that's what that feeling is.' He also discussed understanding the importance of legacy, noting that his mother had once told him that 'Mr. [Bill] Cosby gave you immortality.' 'I feel like, okay, there's that legacy there, but then, because I've had this full life after that show, there's another lane of legacy that I get to leave,' Warner reflected. He was clear about how he wanted to remembered. 'There's part of me that I will be able to leave this earth knowing, and people knowing, that I was a good person,' Warner said. It was no act, which is why his community mourns so deeply for the man who was so much more than Theo.
