{"id":13711,"date":"2025-07-21T20:17:10","date_gmt":"2025-07-21T20:17:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/13711\/"},"modified":"2025-07-21T20:17:10","modified_gmt":"2025-07-21T20:17:10","slug":"malcolm-jamal-warner-cosby-show-star-dead-at-54-national","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/13711\/","title":{"rendered":"Malcolm-Jamal Warner, \u2018Cosby Show\u2019 star, dead at 54 – National"},"content":{"rendered":"

Malcolm-Jamal Warner<\/a>, a star of \u201980s and \u201990s television best-known for playing Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show, has died at the age of 54<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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The actor was in Costa Rica on a family vacation and drowned while swimming, Costa Rican National Police told ABC News<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Authorities said that Warner\u2019s official cause of death was asphyxia, caused when the body is deprived of oxygen. He died near Playa Cocles, a beach in Limon, Costa Rica, according to police, adding that the actor was caught by a high current in the water and his body was found Sunday afternoon.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was rescued by people on the beach,\u201d the department\u2019s initial report said, but first responders from Costa Rica\u2019s Red Cross found him without vital signs and he was taken to the morgue.<\/p>\n

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Warner played Theo Huxtable for all eight seasons of\u00a0The Cosby Show, which ran from 1984 to 1992. He was nominated for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series at the 38th Primetime Emmy Awards for the role.<\/p>\n

Warner\u2019s Theo was the only son among four daughters in the household of Cliff Huxtable and Phylicia Rashad\u2019s Clair Huxtable on the sitcom, and he would be one of the prime representations of American teenage boyhood on a show that was the most popular in America for much of its run.<\/p>\n

Warner also starred with Eddie Griffin in the sitcom Malcolm & Eddie from 1996 to 2000, and he starred opposite Tracee Ellis Ross<\/a> as a family-blending couple for two seasons on the BET sitcom Reed Between the Lines.<\/p>\n

He starred in the medical drama The Resident for five of the show\u2019s six seasons.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tMalcolm-Jamal Warner in the \u2018Operator Error\u2019 episode of \u2018The Resident.\u2019.\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tFOX Image Collection via Getty Images\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Warner also played O.J. Simpson\u2019s friend Al \u201cA.C.\u201d Cowlings in American Crime Story: The People vs. O.J. Simpson, directed by Ryan Murphy.<\/p>\n

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His film roles include the 2008 rom-com Fool\u2019s Gold with Matthew McConaughey<\/a> and Kate Hudson<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In 2015, Warner won his first Grammy for his work on Robert Glasper\u2019s Jesus Children. He was also nominated for best spoken word poetry album in 2022 for Hiding in Plain View.<\/p>\n

His most recent acting credits include 9-1-1 and Alert: Missing Persons Unit.<\/p>\n

Many celebrities and fans took to social media to pay tribute to Warner after news of his death spread.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re heartbroken to report the passing of Malcolm-Jamal Warner at the age of 54 from an apparent drowning.<\/p>\n

A generation grew up with Warner as Theodore \u201cTheo\u201d Huxtable. His portrayal helped redefine Black boyhood on screen, offering humor, vulnerability, and depth across eight\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/2k3IHiLMr6<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 ESSENCE (@Essence) July 21, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

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That man gave us one of the greatest scenes in the history of television. <\/p>\n

I cannot even believe this. I am over here SOBBING! <\/p>\n

Rest in poetry, Malcolm Jamal Warner. \ud83d\udd4a\ufe0f pic.twitter.com\/wSrmLZlaL7<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Renee (@PettyLupone) July 21, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

#RestinPower<\/a> to NAACP Image Award winning actor, Malcolm-Jamal Warner. Your talent and spirit touched many lives, and your legacy will continue to inspire. <\/p>\n

Thank you for the memories and the impact you made in the world of entertainment pic.twitter.com\/y3zOBZqR3F<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 NAACP (@NAACP) July 21, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

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I am so sad to read of the untimely passing of Malcolm Jamal Warner. He was the nicest guy and it was a privilege to have been in same company with him, sharing a directors\u2019 panel along with Howard Gordon and Michael chiklis. My heart goes out to his family and friends. RIP\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/vvE0IZu2oi<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Marlee Matlin (@MarleeMatlin) July 21, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Theo Huxtable getting his ear pierced without his parents\u2019 permission was an all-time great sitcom episode.<\/p>\n

Rest in peace, Malcolm-Jamal Warner. pic.twitter.com\/K2krKZaOHV<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Mike Beauvais (@MikeBeauvais) July 21, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

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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\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2014 Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) July 21, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

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The King Center mourns the tragic passing of our dear friend, #MalcolmJamalWarner<\/a>. Malcolm was a brilliant, multi-faceted artist and an inspiring giver. We are grateful for his love for #TheKingCenter<\/a> and the King legacy. And for the ways he showed his support, including as\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/eiB0dM3UDi<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center (@TheKingCenter) July 21, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

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\t\t\t\t\tA screenshot of Eddie Griffin\u2019s Instagram Stories.\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t@EddieGriffin \/ Instagram\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"A<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tA screenshot of Jennifer Love Hewitt\u2019s Instagram Stories.\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t@JenniferLoveHewitt \/ Instagram\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

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\t\t\t\t\tA screenshot of Vivica A Fox\u2019s Instagram Stories.\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t@msvfox \/ Instagram\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Warner leaves behind a wife and daughter, whose identities are not known.<\/p>\n

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\u2014With files from The Associated Press<\/p>\n

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