Malcolm-Jamal Warner, the Emmy-nominated actor who rose to fame as Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show, has sadly passed away at the age of 54 in an accidental drowning in Costa Rica, local authorities say.
Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Department said on Monday, July 21, that Warner drowned on the afternoon of Sunday, July 20, while swimming at Playa Grande de Cocles on the country’s Caribbean coast.
He was reportedly caught in a strong current and pulled further out to sea.
“He was rescued by people on the beach,” the department’s initial report said, but first responders from the Red Cross found him without vital signs, and he was taken to the morgue.
Born August 18, 1970, in Jersey City, New Jersey, Warner showed an early passion for performing and began studying acting at age nine. He later graduated from the Professional Children’s School in New York City.
Warner became a household name in the 1980s as Theo, the only son of Cliff and Clair Huxtable on NBC’s The Cosby Show, a role he held from 1984 to 1992. He was nominated for an Emmy at age 16 and went on to appear in numerous series, including Malcolm & Eddie, Jeremiah, Community, Major Crimes, Suits, and The Resident, where he played Dr. AJ “The Raptor” Austin. He also portrayed Al Cowlings in The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story.
In addition to acting, Warner directed episodes of several sitcoms, including Kenan & Kel, All That, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and helmed music videos for artists like New Edition and Special Ed. He was also active in public health outreach, directing an educational video about HIV/AIDS in the early ’90s.
A passionate musician and poet, Warner released multiple jazz-funk and spoken word albums. In 2015, he won a Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance for his work on Robert Glasper’s cover of Stevie Wonder’s Jesus Children of America. His 2022 album Hiding in Plain View earned a Grammy nomination for Best Spoken Word Poetry Album.
Most recently, in 2024, he co-launched the podcast Not All Hood (NAH), exploring the lives and experiences of Black Americans.
Following news of his death, tributes poured in from fans and well-known figures honouring his legacy.
That man gave us one of the greatest scenes in the history of television.
I cannot even believe this. I am over here SOBBING!
Rest in poetry, Malcolm Jamal Warner. 🕊️ pic.twitter.com/wSrmLZlaL7
— Renee (@PettyLupone) July 21, 2025
#RestinPower to NAACP Image Award winning actor, Malcolm-Jamal Warner. Your talent and spirit touched many lives, and your legacy will continue to inspire.
Thank you for the memories and the impact you made in the world of entertainment pic.twitter.com/y3zOBZqR3F
— NAACP (@NAACP) July 21, 2025
The Gentle Giant
A poem and tribute to our beloved brother Malcolm-Jamal WarnerToday, we lost a gentle giant.
A man who won our hearts not by force, but by quiet grace.
From the very beginning, Malcolm-Jamal Warner reminded us that being calm, classy, sophisticated, and soulful… pic.twitter.com/1tUkY5QZ3q— Tyrese Gibson (@Tyrese) July 21, 2025
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…
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) July 21, 2025
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’ panel along with Howard Gordon and Michael chiklis. My heart goes out to his family and friends. RIP… pic.twitter.com/vvE0IZu2oi
— Marlee Matlin (@MarleeMatlin) July 21, 2025
He is survived by his wife and daughter, whose identities he kept private.
-with AP.
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