Cosby Show’s Malcolm-Jamal Warner Dead at 54

The Cosby Show alum Malcolm-Jamal Warner died on Sunday, July 20. He was 54.

TMZ was the first to report the news on Monday, July 21. ABC News has since confirmed with Costa Rican National Police that Warner died in an accidental drowning near Cocles, a beach in Limon, Costa Rica, after being caught by a high current in the water. His cause of death was asphyxia.

Us Weekly has reached out to Warner’s team for comment.

The late star played the role of Theodore Huxtable on The Cosby Show for all eight seasons from 1984 to 1992. Prior to his death, Warner was the host of the “Not All Hood” podcast alongside Candace Kelley, on which they discussed “the lived experiences and identities of Black people in America,” according to the show’s description. The duo released their latest episode on Friday, July 18.

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Throughout his time in the spotlight, Warner spoke highly of his experience on The Cosby Show.

“I’m still proud of the legacy and having been a part of such an iconic show that had such a profound impact on — first and foremost, Black culture — but also American culture,” he told People in 2023, detailing the “groundbreaking” series.

Malcolm-Jamal Warner. Santiago Felipe/Getty Images

“Prior to The Cosby Show, Black sitcom humor was predicated on being Black, the specificity of the ‘Black’ experience,” he said at the time. “Though the Huxtables were clearly Black — reflected quite obviously by their dress, the Black art on the walls, the music — the family issues all were universal. And though Cliff was a doctor and Claire was an attorney, the family dynamic was one that practically every family — no matter the ethnicity, socioeconomic status or even family makeup — could find something to relate to.”

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At the time, Warner noted that the rest of The Cosby Show cast — which included Bill Cosby, Phylicia Rashad and Lisa Bonet, among others — feels the same way about the show’s legacy.

“I know I can speak for all the cast when I say The Cosby Show is something that we are all still very proud of,” Warner also told People. “We share a unique experience that keeps us lovingly bonded no matter how much time goes between seeing or hearing from each other.”

Warner is survived by his wife and daughter, whose names were never publicly revealed.