Malcolm-Jamal Warner, an actor finest recognized for his function as Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Present, has died.
Warner, who was 54, drowned on the weekend whereas on vacation in Costa Rica, native authorities stated.
He seems to have been dragged out to sea by a swift ocean present whereas swimming at Playa Grande round 14:00 (20:00 GMT) native time on Sunday in Cocles, a city within the province of Limón, Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Company stated.
Warner performed the son of Invoice Cosby on the vastly fashionable US sitcom from 1984-1992. Tributes swiftly poured in from celebrities, together with Questlove, Jennifer Hudson, Taraji P Henson, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Magic Johnson.
Authorities stated bystanders rescued Warner and introduced him to shore, the place the Costa Rican Pink Cross tried to deal with him, however he was declared lifeless on the scene.
He’s survived by his spouse and daughter.
Warner was Emmy-nominated within the Excellent Supporting Actor in a comedy sequence for his work on The Cosby Present in 1986.
He was handpicked for his breakout function by Cosby on the ultimate day of a nationwide audition.
“I used to be actually the final particular person they noticed,” he recalled in a 2023 interview.
The Cosby Present ranked because the primary TV present for 5 seasons from 1985-90. It portrayed a comfortable middle-class household – a comparatively uncommon depiction on the time of black People on tv.
“When the present first got here out, there have been white individuals and black individuals speaking about [how] the Huxtables do not actually exist, black individuals do not actually reside like that,” Warner stated in a 2013 interview.
“In the meantime, we had been getting tens of hundreds of fan letters from individuals saying, ‘Thanks a lot for this present.'”
After The Cosby Present, Warner appeared in a number of different tv programmes together with Malcom & Eddie, alongside comic Eddie Griffin.
Griffin paid respects to him on social media after his demise, writing “R.I.P. King” and “My huge little brother”.
Warner had visitor appearances on The Contemporary Prince of Bel-Air and Sesame Road. Extra just lately, he performed AJ Austin, a cardio-thoracic surgeon on the medical drama sequence The Resident.
Fox Leisure, which broadcast the present, instructed US publication Selection: “Everybody at Fox is heartbroken by the tragic lack of our pal and colleague, the extraordinary Malcolm-Jamal Warner.
“Whereas his iconic roles – from comedic to dramatic – are unforgettable and timeless, Malcolm can be remembered most for his heat, form coronary heart and the lasting influence he had on his buddies, household and followers in all places.”
Warner additionally received a Grammy for Greatest Conventional R&B Efficiency in 2015, alongside Robert Glasper and Lalah Hathaway for his or her cowl of Stevie Surprise’s track Jesus Kids of America.
His spoken phrase album, Hiding In Plain View, garnered him one other Grammy nomination in 2023.
Final yr, he began a podcast – Not All Hood – which mentioned psychological well being within the black group.
Former co-stars and followers has been posting their tributes to him on-line.
Basketball star Magic Johnson, who appeared in an AIDS consciousness video directed by Warner, wrote that he and his spouse had been “each tremendous followers of the hit Cosby Present and continued to observe his profession” through the years.
“Each time I bumped into Malcolm, we might have deep and enjoyable conversations about basketball, life, and enterprise. He’ll really be missed,” Johnson wrote.
“Wow. That is heartbreaking,” posted comedian actor Kevin Hart, whereas one other star, Jamie Foxx, added: “Speechless on this one. relaxation in energy, my brother.”
Actress Jennifer Love Hewitt referred to as him “a gentleman” and “an unbelievable expertise”.
Actress Vivica A Fox posted that she was shocked and saddened by his sudden demise, writing: “Thanks for ya presents, king.”
Tracee Ellis Ross, who starred with Warner on Reed Between the Traces, additionally mourned him, writing: “My coronary heart is so so unhappy.
“What an actor and pal you had been: heat, light, current, form, considerate, deep, humorous, elegant. You made the world a brighter place.
“Sending a lot like to your loved ones. I am so sorry for this unimaginable loss.”
Actress Taraji P Henson posted: “Malcolm, we grew up with you. Thanks for the artwork, the knowledge, the grace you gave us!!!!!
“You left the world higher than you discovered it. Relaxation straightforward, king!!!! Your legacy lives far past the display.”
Actress Niecy Nash posted that she had just lately spoken to Warner.
“We talked about how joyful we each had been in our marriages. Rattling pal. You had been cornerstone of The Cosby Present.
“All of us cherished Theo! By no means to be forgotten. You may be missed. Relaxation Straightforward.”
Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock additionally praised Warner, writing in a put up: “For me and so many in my technology, Malcolm-Jamal Warner was part of our childhood, a brother whose character ‘Theo’ felt like one in every of my very own.
“Could God grant peace to his soul, energy and style to his grieving household.”