Malcolm-Jamal Warner tragically died on Sunday July 20. (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)
(The Post News)- Hollywood celebrities and fans across the world mourn the tragic loss of Malcolm-Jamal Warner, the beloved actor best known for his role as Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show died at the age of 54 after accidentally drowning while on a family holiday in Costa Rica.
According to reports provided by Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Police, Warner was swept away by a powerful current while swimming at Playa Cocles on Sunday afternoon, July 20. Bystanders pulled Warner from the water and emergency responders attempted to revive him, but unfortunately he was pronounced dead at the scene. His official cause of death has been confirmed as asphyxia by submersion.
Warner rose to fame as the only son among four daughters in a successful upper-middle-class Black household on the 1980s NBC hit sitcom The Cosby Show, which redefined representations of African American families on television. While Warner’s portrayal of Theo made him beloved figure, he remained on television for decades after.
Beyond his iconic role as Theo, Warner starred in sitcoms like Malcolm & Eddie, Reed Between the Lines, the medical drama The Resident, and most recently, 9-1-1. He was also a Grammy-winning musician and poet.
Soon after news of his death was published, tributes began pouring in for the star, who many regarded as “Black TV royalty” for the roles he had taken, which have redefined how black culture and blackness were portrayed on TV.
One notable tribute came from an X user @glynderella_, who wrote, “Malcolm-Jamal Warner was not only Black television royalty, he was a Grammy Award-winning poet and talented musician in a jazz band. May he rest in peace 💛.” The post garnered over 37,000 likes, reflecting widespread admiration for his multifaceted talents.
Among the first high-profile celebrities to publicly mourn Warner was Beyoncé, who posted on her website, “Rest in Power, Malcolm-Jamal Warner. Thanks for being a big part of our shared television history. You will be missed.”
Jammie Foxx posted a commemorative photo of Warner with a short heartfelt caption summarising everyone’s reaction “Speechless on this one rest in power, my brother,”
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Adam Sandler, who guest-starred on The Cosby Show in one episode, expressed his shock, saying, “I can’t believe it,” repeated twice, before sending love to Warner’s family.
Other notable tributes are from the NAACP and Essence magazine on X, who praise his legacy and artistry.
Warner is survived by his wife and young daughter, whose names and images he deliberately kept off social media to protect them from the harsh gaze of Hollywood.
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