Actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, recognized for his portrayal of Theodore “Theo” Huxtable on “The Cosby Show,” passed away on Sunday, July 20, 2025, at the age of 54. He drowned while swimming in Costa Rica during a family vacation.
The Costa Rican National Police confirmed that Warner drowned near Cocles, a beach located in Limon, after being caught in a strong current. His body was found in the afternoon and identified by the national police. The cause of death was determined to be asphyxia.
Warner was on vacation with his daughter, some sources say wife and daughter, when the incident took place. The Costa Rican Red Cross reported that bystanders had rescued Warner and brought him ashore, but despite receiving aid, he was pronounced dead. His body was subsequently transported to the Judicial Morgue in San Joaquín de Flores, Heredia, for an autopsy.
Another person was injured during the same event and was taken to a local clinic in critical condition, according to the Costa Rican Red Cross.
In September 2025, Warner’s widow, Tenisha Warner, for the first time publicly confirmed her identity and addressed her late husband’s passing. She shared a wedding photo of the couple on Instagram on September 12 and expressed gratitude for the public’s support, while promising to carry forward his legacy. She also announced the launch of two new initiatives in his honour: the Warner Family Foundation and River & Ember, designed to support young artists and foster parent-child relationships, respectively.
Warner, born on August 18, 1970, in New Jersey, developed an interest in acting at a young age, prompting his parents to enroll him at The Professional Children’s School in New York City. He made his television debut in 1982 on “Matt Houston” and appeared on “Fame” the following year.
In 1984, Warner secured his breakthrough role on “The Cosby Show” after auditioning on the last day of NBC’s nationwide search. He later mentioned that casting directors were initially looking for a six-foot-two-inch 15-year-old, but as no suitable candidate was found, his agent resubmitted him. Warner described himself as “literally the last person they saw” for the role.
Warner played the role of Bill Cosby’s son throughout the eight seasons of “The Cosby Show,” which aired from 1984 to 1992. His performance earned him an Emmy nomination for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series in 1986. This role established his status as a TV icon and launched a career spanning over four decades.
After “The Cosby Show,” Warner starred with Eddie Griffin in the UPN sitcom “Malcolm & Eddie” from 1996 to 2000. He later led the BET sitcom “Reed Between the Lines” from 2011 to 2015, starring alongside Tracee Ellis Ross as Dr. Alex Reed.
Warner’s television appearances included roles on “Sons of Anarchy,” where he portrayed Sticky, and “The Resident,” where he played AJ Austin from 2018 to 2023. His recent work featured guest roles on “9-1-1” and “Alert: Missing Persons Unit.”
In addition to acting, Warner pursued directing in his late teens, working on music videos for artists such as New Edition and Special Ed. He directed episodes of various TV series, including “The Cosby Show,” “All That,” “Kenan & Kel,” and “Malcolm & Eddie.” He also directed the 1992 educational video “Time Out: The Truth About HIV, AIDS, and You,” featuring celebrities Arsenio Hall and Magic Johnson.
Warner received a Grammy Award in 2015 for Best Traditional R&B Performance as a featured artist on “Jesus Children of America” with the Robert Glasper Experiment and Lalah Hathaway. In 2023, he was nominated for another Grammy in the best spoken word poetry album category for “Hiding In Plain View.”
He also provided his voice for “The Magic School Bus” as the Producer character, a role he executive-produced for the PBS Kids series.
Recently, Warner launched a podcast titled “Not All Hood” in June 2024 with co-hosts Weusi Baraka and Candace Kelley. The podcast focused on mental health discussions within the Black community. His latest episode aired three days before his death. Warner mentioned that the podcast aimed to explore different aspects of Black culture and balance out one-sided portrayals.
In 2013, Warner shared with the Archive of American Television that his proudest achievement was maintaining stability after his time on “The Cosby Show.” He expressed having peace of mind and feeling successful in his post-“Cosby Show” career and life.
Warner reflected on the enduring impact of “The Cosby Show” in recent interviews, noting that despite controversies surrounding Bill Cosby, the show influenced a generation to pursue higher education and form loving family relationships. He emphasized that the show’s cultural impact remained irreversible.
In September at the 2025 Emmy Awards, his former costar Phylicia Rashad delivered an emotional tribute in the “In Memoriam” segment, noting Warner’s impact and calling him “beloved” and an enduring presence in the industry.
On October 7, Warner’s final television performance aired in the series “Murder in a Small Town” (Season 2, Episode 3). Co-star Rossif Sutherland recalled Warner’s work on the episode, calling him a “lovely, gentle soul” and praising the emotional depth he brought to the role.
Warner is survived by his wife, Tenisha, and daughter, whose identities he kept private throughout his career.
