Malcolm-Jamal Warner (August 18, 1970 – July 20, 2025) was an American actor, musician and poet. He rose to prominence for his role as Theodore Huxtable on the NBC sitcom The Cosby Show (1984–1992), which earned him a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series at the 38th Primetime Emmy Awards. He was also known for his roles as Malcolm McGee on the sitcom Malcolm & Eddie (1996–2000), Dr. Alex Reed in the sitcom Reed Between the Lines (2011, 2015), and Dr. AJ Austin in the medical drama The Resident.
In 2015, Warner received a Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance for the song “Jesus Children” alongside Robert Glasper Experiment and Lalah Hathaway.
Warner was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, on August 18, 1970. He was named after Malcolm X and jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal. He was raised in Los Angeles from age five. At the age of nine, he demonstrated an interest in show business that led to enrollment in acting schools. His career as a child performer later led him to graduate high school from The Professional Children’s School in New York City, New York.
With appearances and roles on many television shows and films, he landed his most successful role as Theo Huxtable, the only son of Heathcliff Huxtable, who was played by Bill Cosby on the NBC sitcom, The Cosby Show from 1984 to 1992. Warner auditioned for the role on the final day of the nationwide search. In 1986, he was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series at the 38th Primetime Emmy Awards.
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Music and poetry
In 2003, Warner released his debut jazz-funk EP, The Miles Long Mixtape. In 2007, Warner followed up with his second CD entitled Love & Other Social Issues. In 2015, he received a Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance for his contribution to a cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Jesus Children of America”. Warner performed a poem on the track, dedicated to the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, along with musicians Robert Glasper Experiment and Lalah Hathaway.
Warner played bass guitar, performing in a band where he recited his poetry over the music.
Warner performed at the National Black Theatre Festival from 2003 onwards, in addition to hosting its Poetry Jam. Warner’s 2022 spoken word poetry album Hiding in Plain View was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Poetry Album in the 65th Annual Grammy Awards, the first year the category was included in the awards.
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Warner had several high-profile relationships . . . He later married and had a daughter, though he kept their identities private. [More recent news articles said his daughter was 8 years old and was with him when he drowned.]
Warner died on July 20, 2025, at the age of 54, while swimming at Playa Cocles in Limón Province, Costa Rica. Authorities reported he was caught in a high current and drowned. Bystanders pulled him from the ocean, but he was declared lifeless upon reaching shore. The official cause of death was confirmed as asphyxia by submersion due to drowning.
Following his death, tributes were paid by public figures, including Bill Cosby, who compared the news to learning of his son Ennis’s death. Actor Morris Chestnut praised Warner as “kind and genuine.”
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Go here to read more of Mr. Warner’s bio:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm-Jamal_Warner