Malcolm-Jamal Warner, ‘Cosby Show’ icon, dies at 54 in Costa Rica
Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who played Theo on “The Cosby Show,” drowned off Costa Rica at age 54.
- Actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, known for his role as Theo Huxtable on “The Cosby Show,” died at age 54.
- Costa Rican authorities confirmed Warner drowned while swimming off the coast of Costa Rica.
- Beyoncé paid tribute to Warner on her website, acknowledging his contribution to television history.
- Warner also starred in “Malcolm & Eddie” and “The Resident.”
Beyoncé Knowles-Carter paid tribute to actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner after he drowned.
The “Cowboy Carter” creator updated her website Monday in honor of Warner, best known for his role as Theodore Huxtable on “The Cosby Show,” following reports he died.
“Rest in power Malcolm-Jamal Warner. Thanks for being a big part of our shared television history. You will be missed,” Beyonce.com now reads.
Warner drowned off the coast of Costa Rica after getting caught in a high current while swimming, Costa Rican National Police confirmed to ABC News. USA TODAY has reached out to representatives for Warner. He was 54.
Warner starred in all eight seasons of the hit NBC sitcom as the son of Bill Cosby‘s Cliff Huxtable and Phylicia Rashad‘s Clair Huxtable.
“The Cosby Show” ran from Sept. 20, 1984, to April 30, 1992, with Warner earning global stardom, an Emmy nomination for best supporting actor in a comedy series, and directing experience behind the camera for several episodes.
“The ’80s for me were a blast. I was a teenager, living in New York, on the No. 1 show. Not just in the country but in the world,” Warner told the Television Academy in 2014. “Everybody watched the show and knew the show.”
Additionally, Warner was known for his role as Malcolm McGee in the 1990s UPN sitcom “Malcolm & Eddie” and as Dr. AJ Austin on the Fox medical drama “The Resident” from 2018 to 2023.
Warner was on a family vacation when he drowned, People and ABC News reported.
Beyoncé is currently on the last leg of her Cowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin’ Circuit Tour, which has spanned nine cities across the U.S. and Europe.
Follow Caché McClay, the USA TODAY Network’s Beyoncé Knowles-Carter reporter, on Instagram, TikTok and X as @cachemcclay.
Contributing: Taijuan Moorman and Bryan Alexander of USA TODAY
