Actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, renowned for portraying Theodore “Theo” Huxtable on “The Cosby Show,” passed away on Sunday, July 20, 2025, at age 54 after drowning in Costa Rica during a family vacation. The incident occurred while he was swimming.
The Costa Rican National Police confirmed that Warner drowned near Cocles, a beach in Limon, after being caught in a strong current. His body was found on Sunday afternoon and identified by the national police of Costa Rica. Asphyxia was determined as the official cause of death.
Warner was on vacation with his daughter at the time of the incident. The Costa Rican Red Cross arrived at the scene after bystanders pulled Warner to shore, where he received assistance but was declared deceased. His body was later transported to the Judicial Morgue in San Joaquín de Flores, Heredia, for an autopsy.
Another person was injured during the event and was taken to a local clinic in critical condition, as reported by the Costa Rican Red Cross. Their current status remains unknown.
Born on August 18, 1970, in New Jersey, Warner developed an early passion for acting, which led his parents to enroll him at The Professional Children’s School in New York City, New York. He made his television debut in 1982 with an appearance on “Matt Houston” and was featured on “Fame” in 1983.
Warner secured his breakthrough role on “The Cosby Show” in 1984 after auditioning on the final day of NBC’s nationwide search. He later disclosed that casting directors initially sought a six-foot-two-inch 16-year-old, but when no suitable candidate was found, his agent resubmitted him for consideration. Warner described himself as literally the last person they saw for the role.
Throughout all eight seasons of “The Cosby Show,” which aired from 1984 to 1992, Warner played Bill Cosby’s son. His performance earned him an Emmy nomination in 1986 for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series. This role established his status as a TV icon and began a career spanning over four decades.
After “The Cosby Show,” Warner co-starred with Eddie Griffin in the UPN sitcom “Malcolm & Eddie” from 1996 to 2000. He later led the BET sitcom “Reed Between the Lines” from 2011 to 2015, alongside Tracee Ellis Ross as Dr. Alex Reed.
Warner’s television work expanded to include roles on “Sons of Anarchy,” where he portrayed Sticky, and “The Resident,” in which he played AJ Austin from 2018 to 2023. His recent appearances included guest roles on “9-1-1” and “Alert: Missing Persons Unit.”
Aside from acting, Warner began directing in his late teens, working on music videos for artists like New Edition and Special Ed. He directed episodes of various TV series, including “The Cosby Show,” “All That,” “Kenan & Kel,” and “Malcolm & Eddie.” He also directed the 1992 educational video “Time Out: The Truth About HIV, AIDS, and You,” featuring Arsenio Hall and Magic Johnson.
Warner was recognized for his musical talents, winning a Grammy Award in 2015 for Best Traditional R&B Performance for his work on “Jesus Children of America” with the Robert Glasper Experiment and Lalah Hathaway. In 2023, he received another Grammy nomination for Best Spoken Word Poetry Album for “Hiding In Plain View.”
The actor also contributed his voice to “The Magic School Bus” as the Producer character, a role he also executive-produced for PBS Kids.
Recently, Warner launched the podcast “Not All Hood” in June 2024, with co-hosts Weusi Baraka and Candace Kelley. The podcast focused on mental health discussions within the Black community, with Warner describing it as a space where he could be vulnerable. His last episode was released three days before his death. Warner stated that the podcast aimed to explore different facets of Black culture and balance one-sided representations.
In 2013, Warner told the Archive of American Television that his proudest achievement was maintaining stability after “The Cosby Show.” He expressed having peace of mind and feeling successful in his post-“Cosby Show” career and life.
Warner reflected on the lasting impact of “The Cosby Show” in recent interviews, acknowledging that despite controversies surrounding Bill Cosby, the show influenced a generation to pursue higher education and form loving family relationships. He emphasized that the show’s cultural impact remained irreversible.
Warner is survived by his wife and daughter, whose identities were kept private throughout his career. Representatives for Warner declined to comment on his passing.
