Actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, best known for his role as Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show, has tragically passed away at the age of 54. Warner drowned while swimming off the coast of Costa Rica near Cocles on Sunday afternoon, after being caught in a strong current, according to local authorities.
The incident occurred between 2 and 2:30 p.m. local time. The Costa Rican National Police told The Post that Warner was pulled from the water by nearby civilians and brought ashore, where the Costa Rica Red Cross attempted life-saving measures. Sadly, their efforts were unsuccessful.
Warner’s body was later transferred to the morgue in San Joaquin de Flores for autopsy. The official cause of death has been listed as asphyxiation by “submersion.” His family was reportedly vacationing with him at the time.
Warner became a household name in the 1980s for his role as Theo, the beloved and often relatable son of Cliff Huxtable, played by Bill Cosby. He starred in the groundbreaking sitcom from 1984 until its end in 1992. Selected personally by Cosby after a nationwide search, Warner’s performance earned him an Emmy nomination in 1986 and a hosting gig on Saturday Night Live that same year.
In a 2021 interview with The Post, Warner reflected on the complicated legacy of The Cosby Show following Cosby’s sexual assault conviction, later overturned. “I can understand why some people can’t watch the show… but there’s a generation of young people who pursued higher education or started loving families because of that show,” he said.
Born on August 18, 1970, in Jersey City, New Jersey, Warner was named after civil rights leader Malcolm X and jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal. He began his career as a child actor and attended the Professional Children’s School in New York City.
Following The Cosby Show, Warner starred in Malcolm & Eddie (1996–2000), Reed Between the Lines (2011–2015), and had roles in hit series like Sons of Anarchy, Suits, 9-1-1, and The Resident, where he played Dr. AJ Austin from 2018 to 2023.
In addition to acting, Warner was an accomplished musician and won a Grammy Award in 2015 for Best Traditional R&B Performance for the song “Jesus Children” with Robert Glasper and Lalah Hathaway.
Most recently, Warner appeared in Alert: Missing Persons Unit on Fox earlier this year. His sudden death has sent shockwaves through Hollywood and among fans who grew up watching him.
Warner’s rep has yet to issue an official comment.
