Actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, recognized for his portrayal of Theodore “Theo” Huxtable on “The Cosby Show,” passed away on Sunday, July 20, at the age of 54. He drowned while swimming during a family vacation in Costa Rica.
The Costa Rican National Police reported that Warner drowned near Cocles, a beach in Limon, after getting caught in a strong current. His body was found on Sunday afternoon and was identified by Costa Rica’s national police. Asphyxia was determined to be the official cause of death.
At the time of the incident, Warner was on vacation with his daughter. After bystanders rescued him and brought him ashore, the Costa Rican Red Cross responded to the scene. Despite receiving aid, Warner was pronounced dead. His body was then sent to the Judicial Morgue in San Joaquín de Flores, Heredia, for an autopsy.
Another person suffered injuries during the event and was taken to a local clinic in critical condition, as reported by the Costa Rican Red Cross. Their current condition is not known.
Born August 18, 1970, in New Jersey, Warner developed an interest in acting early on, leading his parents to enroll him in The Professional Children’s School in New York City. He made his television debut in 1982 on “Matt Houston” and appeared on “Fame” the following year.
Warner secured his breakthrough role on “The Cosby Show” in 1984, after auditioning on the last day of NBC’s national search. He later revealed that casting directors were initially looking for a six-foot-two-inch 16-year-old. When no suitable candidate was found, his agent resubmitted him. Warner noted he was the last person they saw for the role.
Warner played Bill Cosby’s son throughout all eight seasons of The Cosby Show, which aired from 1984 to 1992. His performance earned him an Emmy nomination for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series in 1986. This role solidified his status as a TV icon and launched a career spanning over four decades.
After “The Cosby Show,” Warner starred alongside Eddie Griffin in the UPN sitcom “Malcolm & Eddie” from 1996 to 2000. He later led the BET sitcom “Reed Between the Lines” from 2011 to 2015, alongside Tracee Ellis Ross as Dr. Alex Reed.
Warner’s television roles expanded to include “Sons of Anarchy,” where he portrayed Sticky, and “The Resident,” where he played AJ Austin from 2018 to 2023. His recent appearances included guest roles on “9-1-1” and “Alert: Missing Persons Unit.”
Apart from acting, Warner pursued directing in his late teens, working on music videos for artists such as New Edition and Special Ed. He directed episodes of various television series, including “The Cosby Show,” “All That,” “Kenan & Kel,” and “Malcolm & Eddie.” He also directed the 1992 educational video “Time Out: The Truth About HIV, AIDS, and You,” featuring Arsenio Hall and Magic Johnson.
Warner was also acknowledged for his musical contributions, winning a Grammy Award in 2015 for Best Traditional R&B Performance as a featured artist on Jesus Children of America with the Robert Glasper Experiment and Lalah Hathaway. In 2023, he received another Grammy nomination for best spoken word poetry album for Hiding In Plain View.
He also contributed his voice to “The Magic School Bus” as the Producer character, a role he also executive-produced for the PBS Kids series.
Most recently, Warner launched the podcast “Not All Hood” in June 2024 with co-hosts Weusi Baraka and Candace Kelley. The podcast centered on discussions about mental health in the Black community, with Warner describing it as a space for vulnerability. His latest episode was released three days before his death. Warner indicated the podcast aimed to explore various aspects of Black culture and balance out one-sided representations.
In 2013, Warner told the Archive of American Television that his proudest achievement was maintaining stability after his time on “The Cosby Show.” He expressed having peace of mind and feeling successful in his post-“Cosby Show” career and life.
Warner reflected on the lasting impact of “The Cosby Show” in recent interviews, acknowledging that despite controversies surrounding Bill Cosby, the show influenced a generation to pursue higher education and form loving family relationships. He emphasized that the show’s cultural impact remained irreversible.
Warner is survived by his wife and daughter, whose identities he chose to keep private throughout his career. Representatives for Warner declined to comment on his death.