According to multiple sources, beloved actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner has tragically passed away at the age of 54.
Warner is best remembered for his iconic role as Theo Huxtable, a character he portrayed throughout all eight seasons of the groundbreaking hit series The Cosby Show.
The actor’s life was cut short on Sunday, July 20, when he drowned off the coast of Costa Rica, authorities confirmed to ABC News.
Warner’s body was found near Cocles Beach in Limón, after police say he was caught in a powerful current while swimming.
Costa Rica’s national police have officially identified Warner’s remains and confirmed that hypoxia—lack of oxygen—was the cause of his untimely death.
Malcolm-Jamal Warner earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his unforgettable role on The Cosby Show, where he starred from 1984 to 1992.
Most recently, Warner appeared on the Fox medical drama The Resident, and in the 1990s, he also played a key role in the popular sitcom Malcolm & Eddie.
In 2023, Warner reflected in an interview with People on the lasting legacy of The Cosby Show, three decades after it ended.
He shared, “What made it so groundbreaking was its universality. NBC initially saw it as a show about an upper-middle-class Black family. Mr. [Bill] Cosby diligently impressed upon them that the show was about an upper-middle-class family that happened to be Black.”
While the show’s reputation was later clouded by Cosby’s legal issues—most notably the Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturning his sexual assault conviction in June 2021—Warner remained steadfast in his pride.
“Regardless of how some people may feel about the show now,” he said, “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 added, “I know I can speak for the entire cast when I say The Cosby Show is something we are all still incredibly proud of.”
“We share a unique experience that keeps us lovingly connected, no matter how much time passes between seeing or hearing from one another.”