In the wake of Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s sudden death at age 54, Bill Cosby shared a personal tribute to the actor who portrayed his son, Theo Huxtable, on the long-running NBC sitcom “The Cosby Show.”
Warner died Sunday after an accidental drowning while swimming off the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica during a family vacation. According to local authorities, the actor was caught in a strong current. Despite efforts by beachgoers and first responders, Warner could not be revived.
In an interview with ABC News, Cosby reflected on Warner’s legacy both on and off the screen, remembering him as “very professional” and “a great studier.”
“I enjoyed working with him very much,” Cosby said. “He always knew his part, he always knew his lines, and he always knew where to go.”
The role of Theo Huxtable was loosely inspired by Cosby’s real-life son, Ennis, who was murdered in 1997. Cosby noted the parallels between the two young men and shared that Warner and Ennis were friends during their youth. Cosby’s spokesperson, Andrew Wyatt, told People, the grief “reminded him of the same call he received when his son died.”
Cosby also stated he maintained a paternal bond with Warner long after “The Cosby Show” ended its eight-season run from 1984 to 1992.
“Malcolm calls here regularly,” Cosby told ABC. “While I was their TV dad, I never stopped being a father to them.”
According to Wyatt, Cosby has been in contact with other “Cosby Show” alumni, including Phylicia Rashad, who played his onscreen wife Clair Huxtable.
“He was on the phone with Phylicia Rashad reminiscing about Malcolm,” Wyatt told People.
Warner’s post-Cosby career was wide-ranging. He earned praise for his roles in “Reed Between the Lines,” “The Resident” and “Sons of Anarchy.” He also won a Grammy Award in 2015 for best traditional R&B performance. In recent years, he focused on producing a podcast that delved into Black identity and cultural history.
Tributes have flooded social media from industry peers such as Tracee Ellis Ross and Jamie Foxx.
Cosby, once one of television’s most beloved figures, was accused by more than 60 women of sexual assault and misconduct spanning decades. He served three years in prison after a 2018 conviction, which was later overturned on appeal. Cosby has continued to deny all allegations against him.
