Malcolm-Jamal Warner drowned Sunday afternoon off Playa Grande, Costa Rica.
Beloved actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, widely known for his role as Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show, has tragically died at the age of 54 after drowning off the coast of Costa Rica.
The incident occurred Sunday afternoon while Warner was swimming at Playa Grande near Cahuita in Limón Province. According to Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Police, the actor was caught in a strong ocean current and pulled into deeper waters around 2:30 p.m.
Despite efforts by bystanders, Warner could not be rescued. The Costa Rican Red Cross pronounced him dead at the scene. National police later confirmed the cause of death as asphyxia by drowning. He was on vacation with family at the time.
Born on August 18, 1970, in New Jersey, Warner rose to fame in the 1980s as the youngest child in the Huxtable family. The Cosby Show, which aired from 1984 to 1992, redefined Black representation in American television. Warner earned an Emmy nomination in 1986 for his role.
After the show’s end, Warner continued to build a successful career as an actor, director, poet, and musician. His credits include Malcolm & Eddie, The Resident, Reed Between the Lines, and guest appearances in Suits, American Horror Story, Key & Peele, and Sons of Anarchy.
In 2015, Warner won a Grammy for his R&B performance of Stevie Wonder’s “Jesus Children” alongside Robert Glasper and Lalah Hathaway. He was also nominated in 2023 for best spoken word poetry album.
In recent years, Warner was vocal about the cultural significance of The Cosby Show, even as it became clouded by allegations against its lead actor. “There’s a generation of us who went to college, who built loving families because of that show,” he once said. “That impact is irreversible.”
He also hosted Not All Hood, a podcast aimed at challenging stereotypes about the Black experience.
Bill Cosby, reacting to the news, called Warner’s death “shocking,” praising his discipline and dedication. “You could depend on Malcolm always,” he said, recalling how devoted Warner’s mother was.
Actress Tracee Ellis Ross, his co-star in Reed Between the Lines, described him as “gentle, present, deep, funny, elegant.” Eddie Griffin, from Malcolm & Eddie, wrote, “The world lost a father, a son, a poet, a teacher, a friend… Rest well, my big little brother.”
Warner leaves behind his daughter and other family members, who were with him during the vacation in Costa Rica. His passing is a deep loss for the entertainment industry and for millions who watched him grow from child star to cultural icon.
