Malcolm-Jamal Warner, the actor best known for his role as Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show, has died at the age of 54.
According to People, Warner drowned while swimming during a family vacation in Costa Rica.
Variety reports that the incident occurred near Cocles beach in the city of Limon, where he was caught in a strong current.
Costa Rica’s national police confirmed his identity and cause of death as asphyxia on Sunday.
Warner rose to fame as a teenager playing the only son of Bill Cosby’s character, Cliff Huxtable, on the iconic sitcom, which aired in the late eighties and early nineties.
He earned an Emmy nomination for his performance and remained closely associated with the role throughout his career.
In a 2023 interview with People, Warner reflected on the show’s legacy, saying, “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.”
Beyond The Cosby Show, Warner enjoyed a varied and successful career in television.
He starred in the sitcom Malcolm & Eddie alongside Eddie Griffin, played Alex Reed in Reed Between the Lines opposite Tracee Ellis Ross, and appeared in dramas including The Resident, 9-1-1, Suits and Sons of Anarchy.
He also directed episodes of All That, Kenan & Kel, and Malcolm & Eddie, and won a Grammy as a featured artist on the song “Jesus Children” with Robert Glasper and Lalah Hathaway.
In recent years, Warner launched a podcast titled Not All Hood with co-hosts Weusi Baraka and Candace Kelley, which tackled mental health, Black masculinity and identity.
Speaking to People in 2023, Warner said the podcast allowed him to show a more personal side: “It’s been an interesting experience for me, because it’s a place where I feel safe enough to be able to be as vulnerable as I allow myself to be.”
Born in New Jersey, Warner’s passion for acting led him to enrol in a performing arts school in New York City. He was cast as Theo Huxtable on the final day of a nationwide audition — personally selected by Bill Cosby.
Warner is survived by his wife and daughter.
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