Malcolm‑Jamal Warner, renowned for his role as Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show, has tragically died at the age of 54 following an accidental drowning on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast. Authorities confirmed he was caught in a strong rip current at Playa Cocles, Limón province, while on holiday with his family. Bystanders attempted to rescue him, and he was later pronounced dead by Costa Rican Red Cross paramedics.
Warner, a New Jersey native, rose to fame as the only son of Bill Cosby and Phylicia Rashād’s characters on the seminal NBC series (1984–1992). His portrayal earned him a Primetime Emmy nomination in 1986. His performance profoundly impacted television for its portrayal of a loving, middle-class Black family, breaking cultural barriers. Warner later appeared in Malcolm & Eddie, Reed Between the Lines, American Crime Story, The Resident, and guest-starred on shows such as Suits. He also achieved a Grammy Award in 2015 for Best Traditional R&B Performance and received a Spoken Word Poetry Album Grammy nomination.
Colleagues and fans across generations expressed heartfelt grief. Tracee Ellis Ross, who co-starred with Warner on Read Between the Lines, remembered him as “warm, gentle, present, kind, thoughtful, deep, funny, elegant”. NBA legend Magic Johnson described their friendship, recalling Warner’s warmth and engaging conversations about basketball, life, and business.
Beyond acting, Warner was a multifaceted artist—musician, poet, and podcaster—founding Not All Hood, a platform dedicated to mental health discussions in the Black community. He released a new episode just days before his death.
Costa Rican Judicial Investigation Police identified Warner by surname but withheld further personal details. He is survived by his wife of approximately ten years and their young daughter.
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