Kevin Hart and Magic Johnson are among the many paying tribute to the late Cosby Show star Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who has died aged 54.
Warner, who also starred in Malcolm & Eddie and The Resident, drowned while on a family holiday in Costa Rica.
In reply to the shocking news being posted on Instagram, comedian Hart responded: “WTF…. Wow. This is heartbreaking.”
Former basketball star Earvin “Magic” Johnson also paid tribute, passing on condolences from himself and his wife as he wrote on X/Twitter: “Cookie and I are sad to hear about the passing of our dear friend Malcolm-Jamal Warner. We were both super fans of the hit Cosby Show and continued to follow his career on shows like Malcolm and Eddie and The Resident.
“Every time I ran into Malcolm, we would have deep and fun conversations about basketball, life, and business. He will truly be missed. Cookie and I are praying his family and close friends during this difficult time.”
Warner’s former Malcolm & Eddie co-star Eddie Griffin saluted him in a post on Instagram, describing Warner as “my big little brother.”
Tracee Ellis Ross, who starred with Warner as a married couple in Reed Between the Lines, wrote in a heartfelt Instagram post: “I love you, Malcolm. First I met you as Theo with the rest of the world then you were my first TV husband. My heart is so so sad. What an actor and friend you were: warm, gentle, present, kind, thoughtful, deep, funny, elegant. You made the world a brighter place. Sending so much love to your family. I’m so sorry for this unimaginable loss.”
Niecy Nash wrote: “My God. we just spoke. You were giving my my flowers for my work in [Grotesquerie] and we talked about how happy we both were in our marriages. Damn friend. You were cornerstone of The Cosby Show. We all loved Theo! Never to be forgotten. You will be missed. Rest Easy.”
In an official statement, Fox Entertainment told Variety: “Everyone at Fox is heartbroken by the tragic loss of our friend and colleague, the extraordinary Malcolm-Jamal Warner. While his iconic roles – from comedic to dramatic – are unforgettable and timeless, Malcolm will be remembered most for his warmth, kind heart and the lasting impact he had on his friends, family and fans everywhere. Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with his family and loved ones.”
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ABC News reported that Warner drowned during a family vacation in Costa Rica on Sunday, per Costa Rican National Police. His official cause of death was asphyxia, after he was caught by a strong current while swimming off Cocles, a beach in Limon, on the country’s Atlantic coast.
A representative for Warner confirmed the news to The Independent.
Warner was born in Jersey City, New Jersey on August 18, 1970. He pursued acting from a young age and graduated from New York’s Professional Children’s School.
At the age of 13 he auditioned for the role of Theo, the only son of Bill Cosby’s Heathcliff Huxtable, on the final day of a nationwide search. He was chosen for the part by Cosby himself.
During his time on The Cosby Show, Warner became a well-known public figure and made regular guest appearances elsewhere. He hosted Saturday Night Live in 1986, at the age of 16, and also appeared in Sesame Street and in several television specials.
More recently, Warner has made appearances on comedies including Community and Key & Peele, and starred opposite Ross in the 2011 sitcom Reed Between the Lines. From 2018 to 2023 he starred in the Fox medical drama The Resident.
Warner was also a musician and performance poet who released his debut album, The Miles Long Mixtape, in 2003. In 2015 “Jesus Children”, his collaboration with Robert Glasper and Lalah Hathaway, won the Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance.
His final screen credits came in four episodes of the procedural 9-1-1 last year.
Warner is survived by his wife and daughter.
