Malcolm Jamal Warner was an actor, musician and poet who passed away. He is best known for his iconic role as Theo Huxtable on the hit sitcom The Cosby Show (1984–1992). He born on August 18, 1970 in Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S. He awarded a Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance for the song “Jesus Children” in 2015.
Malcolm Jamal Warner died at 54
Malcolm Jamal Warner died on July 20, 2025 at the age of 54 in Limón Province, Costa Rica due to asphyxia.
The incident took place at Playa Cocles, a beach in Costa Rica’s Limón Province, where Malcolm-Jamal Warner was swimming. While in the water, he got caught in a strong current and was swept away.
Bystanders managed to pull him out of the ocean, but it was already too late. According to Costa Rican authorities and medical reports, the official cause of death was asphyxia due to drowning.
“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,” Tracee Ellis Ross (his co-star and on‑screen wife in Reed Between the Lines) said.
Magic Johnson and his wife Cookie shared on X:
“Cookie and I are sad to hear about the passing of our dear friend… Every time I ran into Malcolm, we would have deep and fun conversations about basketball, life and business. He will truly be missed.”
Eddie Griffin (his co-star on Malcolm & Eddie), “My Heart is heavy right now… Rest easy my Brother…”
Notable Career
Malcolm-Jamal Warner began his career as a child actor and rose to fame in the 1980s as Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show, a role that earned him critical acclaim and global recognition. Theo Huxtable was his most famous character.
Following that success, he built a versatile career spanning television, film, music, and directing. He starred in sitcoms like Malcolm & Eddie and Reed Between the Lines, took on dramatic roles in shows like Sons of Anarchy, Suits, and The Resident, and also directed TV episodes and music videos.
Some of his popular film roles include the action thriller Drop Zone (1994) alongside Wesley Snipes, and the romantic adventure Fool’s Gold (2008) starring Matthew McConaughey. He gained praise for his role in the historical TV movie The Tuskegee Airmen (1995) and starred in the romantic drama The List (2007).
Warner also appeared in independent films like Restaurant (1998) and the socially conscious drama Shot (2017). His work in A Day Late and a Dollar Short (2014).
He is best known for playing Theo Huxtable in The Cosby Show (1984–1992). He later starred in Malcolm & Eddie (1996–2000), Reed Between the Lines (2011–2015), and played Dr. AJ Austin in The Resident (2018–2023). He also appeared in Suits, Community, and Dexter.
He won a Grammy Award in 2015 for Best Traditional R&B Performance for the song “Jesus Children” alongside Robert Glasper Experiment and Lalah Hathaway. He was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in 1986 for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for The Cosby Show. He has also received multiple NAACP Image Award nominations
Personal life
Malcolm-Jamal Warner is married, though he has never publicly revealed his wife’s name or identity, choosing to keep his family life private. The couple reportedly got married around 2016–2017 and welcomed a daughter in 2017. Warner occasionally shares glimpses of fatherhood on social media but never shows his wife or child’s face, emphasizing their right to privacy. Before his marriage, he was in high-profile relationships with actresses Michelle Thomas, Karen Malina White, and Regina King.
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