Malcolm-Jamal Warner, widely recognized for portraying Theo Huxtable on the classic sitcom The Cosby Show, has died at 54. He drowned on Sunday, July 20th, while on a family vacation off the coast of Costa Rica.
Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Department confirmed that Warner was caught in a strong current while swimming at Playa Cocles in the Limón province. Bystanders attempted to assist him, but when first responders from the Red Cross arrived, Warner showed no signs of life and was later pronounced dead. Authorities identified the cause of death as asphyxia. Another man pulled into the current remains in critical condition.
Warner became known in the 1980s for playing Theo Huxtable, the only son on NBC’s The Cosby Show. He appeared in all 197 episodes during its run from 1984 to 1992 and received an Emmy nomination in 1986 for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. The show was a major hit and played a role in changing the portrayal of Black families on mainstream television.
Warner also starred in several other television series, including Malcolm & Eddie, Reed Between the Lines, and The Resident. He also made guest appearances in numerous programs, including American Horror Story, Sons of Anarchy, and Suits. In 2023, he played a recurring character on the procedural drama 9-1-1.
In addition to his acting career, Warner was a skilled musician and spoken word artist. He won a Grammy Award in 2015 for Best Traditional R&B Performance for a cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Jesus Children of America.” He received another Grammy nomination in 2023 for Best Spoken Word Poetry Album for Hiding in Plain View.
Fellow actors paid tribute to Warner following the news of his death. “My heart is so so sad,” wrote Tracee Ellis Ross, who starred alongside Warner in Reed Between the Lines. Viola Davis remembered him as “OUR son, OUR brother, OUR friend,” and praised his impact on television. Eddie Griffin, Warner’s co-star in Malcolm & Eddie, reflected, “You’ve taught me so much and I thank you. Rest well, my big little brother.”
Warner is survived by his wife and young daughter, whose names were not publicly disclosed.
