Bill Cosby Reacts to Malcolm-Jamal Warner's Death
Bill Cosby is mourning the loss of his onscreen son.
Shortly after news broke that The Cosby Show alum Malcolm-Jamal Warner—who portrayed Theo Huxtable on the NBC comedy—had accidentally drowned at the age of 54, the namesake star reacted to the tragic death.
The 88-year-old’s rep Andrew Wyatt confirmed to E! News that when Cosby received the call of Warner’s passing, the news was just as devastating to him as when he learned of his own son Ennis Cosby’s 1997 murder, which was the result of a failed robbery attempt.
Additionally, the rep noted that Cosby spoke of his late son and Warner playing together as children, noting they “were amazing together.”
Cosby also expressed, per the rep, that he believes Warner created a lasting impact through his life and work that will continue to change the world, just as he did as part of the Huxtable family on the NBC sitcom.
The comedian—who served nearly three years in prison for 2018 convictions of aggravated indecent assault before those convictions were overturned in 2021 by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, who cited Cosby’s due process rights had been violated during trial—also spoke to Warner’s work ethic on the set of The Cosby Show.
"You could depend on Malcolm always going to the shelter, to learn his lines, to gather his character to come out and be ready,” Cosby told New York’s 6ABC in a July 21 interview. “When the news came, it was shocking.”
The Fat Albert actor added, “Of course, my thoughts went straight to his mother, who worked so hard. She was so wonderful with him."
Prior to his passing, Warner had been vacationing in Costa Rica and was swimming in the ocean July 20, Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Agency confirmed to E! News in a translated statement.
“Regarding the preliminary investigation, the victim appears to have entered the sea and was apparently swept away by a current,” the July 21 statement said. “The man was rescued by bystanders and taken to shore, where he received treatment from the Costa Rican Red Cross. However, he was declared lifeless at the scene.”
Costa Rican National Police later confirmed to ABC News that Warner’s cause of death was asphyxia, a condition where the body is deprived of oxygen that can be caused by drowning.
After the news of his death, many stars celebrated the life of Warner with touching tributes, including his Reed Between the Lines costar Tracee Ellis Ross.
“I love you, Malcolm,” the Black-ish star wrote in a July 21 Instagram post. “First I met you as Theo with the rest of the world then you were my first TV husband. My heart is so so sad.”
She continued, “What an actor and friend you were: warm, gentle, present, kind, thoughtful, deep, funny, elegant. You made the world a brighter place. Sending so much love to your family. I’m so sorry for this unimaginable loss.”
Read on for a look back at Warner’s life through pictures.
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