*Malcolm-Jamal Warner, best remembered for his role as Theo Huxtable on “The Cosby Show,” has passed away at the age of 54. According to Variety, he died from an accidental drowning while swimming during a family vacation in Costa Rica.
Warner rose to national fame in the 1980s thanks to his Emmy-nominated portrayal of the Huxtables’ only son, cementing his status as a fixture in American television history. His work on the show launched a multifaceted career that included acting, directing, music, and podcasting.
Following “The Cosby Show,” Warner starred alongside Eddie Griffin in the sitcom “Malcolm & Eddie,” which aired for four seasons. His television résumé expanded with appearances and recurring roles in shows like “Jeremiah,” “Listen Up!,” “Reed Between the Lines,” “Sneaky Pete,” and “The Resident.” He also earned acclaim for his portrayal of A.C. Cowlings in “American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson.”
Beyond the screen, Warner’s creative endeavors included directing music videos for acts such as New Edition and Special Ed. He also helmed episodes of “Kenan & Kel,” “All That,” and “Malcolm & Eddie,” as well as the 1992 AIDS-awareness video “Time Out: The Truth About HIV, AIDS, and You,” which earned him the NAACP Key of Life Image Award.
His voice work also made an impact—he voiced the Producer character on the popular PBS series “The Magic School Bus,” introducing science to a generation of young viewers.
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A talented musician, Warner played bass and led his jazz-funk band, Miles Long. He performed at several jazz festivals and opened for artists like Earl Klugh and the late Luther Vandross. In 2015, Warner won a Grammy Award for Best Traditional R\&B Performance as a featured performer on Robert Glasper’s rendition of Stevie Wonder’s “Jesus Children of America.”
“Music is still a big part of what I do; it’s a big part of my expression as an artist,” Warner once shared. “But when I pick up my bass now, I have to be more intentional because I have limited time because of other commitments to acting, and now as a father of a toddler.”
He was also a poet and, most recently, the host of the podcast “Not All Hood,” with its latest episode having dropped just three days before his death.
Warner’s legacy includes a wide range of dramatic and comedic roles across film and television, such as appearances in “Drop Zone,” “Fools Gold,” “Restaurant,” and “The List.” He also made guest appearances on “Suits,” “Community,” and “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”
Warner was known for being intensely private about his personal life. He is survived by a wife and young daughter.
MORE NEWS ON EURWEB.COM: From ‘The Cosby Show’ to ‘The Resident’ – The Evolution of Actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner Continues
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