By India McCarty
COSBY SHOW star Malcolm-Jamal Warner died in a tragic accidental drowning earlier this week. He was 54 years old.
“Warner was swimming with his 8-year-old daughter on Sunday when surfers spotted them struggling and dove in to help,” the Costa Rican police confirmed to ABC News. “A surfer used his board to bring Warner’s daughter to safety and a volunteer lifeguard pulled Warner and another surfer to shore, where Warner was given 45 minutes of CPR.”
Warner’s formal cause of death, per his autopsy, was accidental asphyxia.
“Everyone at Fox is heartbroken by the tragic loss of our friend and colleague, the extraordinary Malcolm-Jamal Warner,” Fox Entertainment, who produced some of Warner’s recent shows, THE RESIDENT and ACCUSED, said in a statement. “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.”
Warner rose to fame playing Theo Huxtable on THE COSBY SHOW and transitioned from child stardom to adult fame with ease. He appeared in popular shows like SUITS, COMMUNITY, SONS OF ANARCHY and DEXTER and even directed some episodes of THE COSBY SHOW, FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR and SESAME STREET.
In a 2013 interview, Warner said his “proudest achievement” was “being able to have a post-Cosby life and post-Cosby career and still have my head on as straight as possible.”
Many of Warner’s co-stars have been paying tribute to him, including Angela Bassett, who he acted alongside in AMERICAN HORROR STORY: FREAK SHOW and 9-1-1.
“When a special soul like @malcolmjamalwar leaves us far too soon, words fail to adequately describe the unimaginable grief,” she wrote on Instagram. “Malcolm was more than a gifted actor; he was a longtime friend.”
Bassett praised Warner for his “deep commitment to his craft,” as well as his habit of making “space for others to shine.”
“His light will remain in our hearts always,” she concluded. “My prayers are with you and yours. Rest in perfect peace until we meet again.”
Tracee Ellis Ross, who played his on-screen wife in REED BETWEEN THE LINES, also memorialized her “first TV husband,” writing, “What an actor and friend you were: warm, gentle, present, kind, thoughtful, deep, funny, elegant. You made the world a brighter place.”
Candace Cameron Bure honored him, too, writing, “So sad to hear the news of @malcolmjamalwar’s passing. Our paths crossed a few times and he was always so kind, and so sweet. He will be very missed. He was sitcom royalty.”
Warner’s family, friends and fans around the world are mourning the tragic loss of the actor and remembering the joy he brought them, both onscreen and off.
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