Malcolm-Jamal Warner, best known for starring in "The Cosby Show," has died. He was 54.
Warner drowned after he was swept out to sea in Costa Rica, according to authorities there. A source close to Warner said he was on vacation with his wife and young daughter.
The source said the incident appears to be a tragic accident. His wife is in the process of trying to bring his body back to the United States for a planned funeral, the source said.
Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Department confirmed to NBC News on Monday that Warner drowned Sunday afternoon on a beach on the Caribbean coast.
He was swimming at Playa Cocles in Limón province when a current dragged him deeper into the sea, the department said in a statement. People at the scene pulled him back to the beach, but first responders from Costa Rica’s Red Cross found him without vital signs, and he was taken to the morgue.
Costa Rica's Caribbean coast has been subjected to stronger-than-usual surf in recent days, said Kurt Korte, vice president of forecasting at wave prediction service Surfline. "We did see some elevated swell running in the area of Playa Cocles on July 20th," he said by email.
Warner, a New Jersey native, first rose to prominence for his role as Theo Huxtable, Bill Cosby's fictional son, in "The Cosby Show," which ran for eight seasons on NBC from 1984 to the early ’90s. He was nominated for an Emmy for outstanding supporting actor.
He went on to star in "Malcolm & Eddie" opposite Eddie Griffin and tried his hand at directing, according to his IMDb profile. His director credits include episodes of "The Cosby Show," "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," "Kenan & Kel" and "All That."
Warner also starred in films, including "Fools Gold" in 2008 with Matthew McConaughey and "Drop Zone" in 1994 with Wesley Snipes. "The Magic School Bus" fans might also recognize Warner as the voice of the show's host, "The Producer."
Besides acting and directing, Warner played the bass. In 2015, he won a Grammy for best traditional R&B performance as a featured performer for his work on Robert Glasper's "Jesus Children." He also took his talents off-Broadway, starring in multiple productions, including "Cryin' Shame," for which he won the NAACP Theater Award for best supporting actor.
His most recent work included starring in three episodes of "Alert: Missing Persons Unit" as Chief Inspector Bill Houston this year. He also co-hosted the podcast "Not All Hood," which dives into the different lived experiences of Black people in America.
On Monday afternoon, basketball legend and entrepreneur Earvin "Magic" Johnson said on X that Warner was a "dear friend" and that he and wife Cookie Johnson were "super fans" of "The Cosby Show."
"Every time I ran into Malcolm, we would have deep and fun conversations about basketball, life, and business," Johnson said. "He will truly be missed."
Two-time Academy Award-winning actor Angela Bassett, who starred alongside Warner on television's "9-1-1" after he took a recurring role on the series last year, said he was "TV royalty."
"He warmly embraced me as a working actor who was trying to find my way," Bassett said on Instagram. "Even in his youth, Malcolm’s empathy, quiet strength, and his bright light surrounded us all."
Academy Award-winning actor Marlee Matlin said her heart goes out to Warner's friends and family.
"I am so sad to read of the untimely passing of Malcolm Jamal Warner," she said on X. "He was the nicest guy."
The King Center in Atlanta noted that Warner hosted its Beloved Community Awards in 2023.
"Malcolm was a brilliant, multi-faceted artist and an inspiring giver," it said on X. "We are grateful for his love."
Bill Cosby paid tribute to Warner, whose character was loosely based on his own son, Ennis, who died in 1997.
Cosby told ABC News: "He was always a great studier, and I enjoyed working with him very much," adding that he stayed in touch with Warner long after the show ended.
Cosby was convicted on three felony counts of aggravated indecent assault in 2018 of drugging and assaulting Andrea Constand in 2004, and was served nearly three years of a a three- to 10-year sentence before that conviction was overturned.
