Malcolm-Jamal Warner, beloved for his role as Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show, has died. He was 54.
According to sources, the actor was on a family vacation in Costa Rica when he drowned. No further details have been released at this time.
Warner is survived by his wife and daughter, who was born in 2017. While he occasionally posted about his family on social media, he never revealed their names or faces, choosing instead to protect their privacy.
In a touching 2019 post, Warner gave fans a rare look into his world as a father, sharing a moment when his then two-year-old daughter asked for hummus as a snack and, shortly after, told her parents, “I need self care sometimes.”
He also shared a deeper reflection on fatherhood and the spiritual home he and his wife had created for their daughter.
“Often I find myself just staring at her and wondering where she came from. I wholeheartedly own that the parents she came from/chose are special spirits in our own right and we’ve passed onto her our spiritual and vibrational riches. I am proud that we have been able to provide a wonderful, loving, and spiritually enriching environment as a home base into which ALL babies should be born and thrive. But the spirit with which she entered this world is hers and hers alone,” he wrote.
He continued, “Thank you for sharing in my joy as a father even though I don’t post her face,” he wrote at the time. “She has the rest of her life for that life. Right now I just want her to BE… but it doesn’t stop me from BEing a proud papa!”
Warner rose to fame at just 14 years old when The Cosby Show premiered in 1984. He starred as the Huxtable family’s only son until the sitcom wrapped in 1992. During his time on the show, Warner made memorable appearances on Saturday Night Live, Sesame Street, and even reprised his role as Theo in a guest spot on the spinoff series A Different World.
After The Cosby Show, he went on to co-star in the sitcom Malcolm & Eddie, which became a hit with fans. He also brought his voice to the iconic animated series The Magic School Bus, playing the cool and curious character of the narrator. In 2015, he earned a Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance, showcasing his talents beyond the screen.
At the time of his passing, Warner was hosting the podcast Not All Hood, which explored themes of culture, growth, and community. The most recent episode aired just three days ago.
