Remembering Malcolm-Jamal Warner: Actor, Musician, Storyteller 1970–2025

Malcolm-Jamal Warner, beloved for his iconic role as Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show, has passed away at the age of 54. Warner drowned on Sunday while swimming off the coast of Costa Rica, after being caught in a rip current near Cocles Beach. Though bystanders tried to save him, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Warner rose to fame in the 1980s as the wisecracking son in The Cosby Show, earning an Emmy nomination and helping define a generation of television. But his career didn't stop there—he starred in Malcolm & Eddie, Reed Between the Lines, and had a memorable run in The Resident. He also made appearances in American Horror Story, Sons of Anarchy, Key & Peele, Suits, and American Crime Story.

Beyond acting, Warner was a passionate musician and poet. He picked up the bass guitar in his 20s and never looked back, even winning a Grammy in 2015 for an R&B collaboration with Robert Glasper and Lalah Hathaway. In 2023, he earned another Grammy nomination for his spoken word poetry album Hiding In Plain View.

Just weeks before his death, Warner launched a podcast called Not All Hood with co-host Candace Kelly, opening up about mental health and the complexity of Black culture. “We want to show all sides of our stories,” he told People in May.

In a 2013 interview, Warner said he was proud to have built a full life and career after The Cosby Show, and that he had peace of mind—“and for me, you can't put a price on that.”

He leaves behind a powerful legacy as an actor, artist, and voice for authenticity.