Former Cosby Present star Malcolm-Jamal Warner has sadly died on the age of 54.
TMZ was the primary to report the information on Monday, July 21. ABC Information later confirmed that the actor drowned close to Cocles, a seaside within the Limon area of Costa Rica. In keeping with Costa Rican Nationwide Police, Warner was caught in a robust present and died from asphyxia brought on by drowning.
Warner was finest recognized for his function as Theodore Huxtable, the beloved solely son of Cliff and Claire Huxtable, on The Cosby Present. He performed the fan-favorite character for all eight seasons from 1984 to 1992, changing into a family title and a serious a part of tv historical past.
In a 2023 interview with Individuals, Warner opened up concerning the affect of the collection and the way proud he remained of its cultural significance.
“I’m nonetheless happy with the legacy and having been part of such an iconic present that had such a profound affect on — at first, Black tradition — but in addition American tradition,” he stated on the time.
He mirrored on how the present shifted the narrative of Black sitcoms. “Previous to The Cosby Present, Black sitcom humor was predicated on being Black, the specificity of the ‘Black’ expertise,” he defined. “Although the Huxtables have been clearly Black — mirrored fairly clearly by their gown, the Black artwork on the partitions, the music — the household points all have been common.”
Warner added that the present’s relatability was a serious a part of its success. “The household dynamic was one which virtually each household — regardless of the ethnicity, socioeconomic standing and even household make-up — may discover one thing to narrate to.”
He additionally shared that his castmates, together with Invoice Cosby, Phylicia Rashad and Lisa Bonet, nonetheless really feel happy with the work they did. “I do know I can communicate for all of the solid after I say The Cosby Present is one thing that we’re all nonetheless very happy with,” he stated. “We share a singular expertise that retains us lovingly bonded regardless of how a lot time goes between seeing or listening to from one another.”
Along with his iconic TV function, Warner was most lately the host of the podcast Not All Hood with cohost Candace Kelley. The present aimed to discover “the lived experiences and identities of Black folks in America,” and their most up-to-date episode dropped on Friday, July 18 — simply days earlier than his passing.
Although Warner was a public determine for many years, he stored his private life largely non-public. He’s survived by his spouse and daughter, whose names have by no means been publicly revealed.
