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Screen & Stage • Actor

Malcolm-Jamal Warner

Malcolm-Jamal Warner was an American actor, director, musician and poet best known for playing Theodore Huxtable on *The Cosby Show*.

Updated July 28, 20261 min readCited sources

Malcolm-Jamal Warner was an American entertainer best known for playing Theo Huxtable on *The Cosby Show*. He died in 2025 at age 54 in Costa Rica after drowning while swimming.

What it is

Malcolm-Jamal Warner was an actor, director, musician and poet. He rose to fame as a child star on *The Cosby Show* (1984–1992), a role that earned him a Primetime Emmy Award nomination. He later starred in the sitcom *Malcolm & Eddie* (1996–2000) and appeared in series such as *Reed Between the Lines* and *The Resident*. He also worked as a musician, winning a Grammy in 2015 for his contribution to Robert Glasper's "Jesus Children."

Career highlights

Warner's breakout role as Theodore Huxtable made him a household name. After *The Cosby Show*, he led the sitcom *Malcolm & Eddie* and appeared in numerous TV and film productions. He received a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. In music, he won a Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance in 2015 and released a 2022 poetry album that was also Grammy-nominated.

Death

Warner died on July 20, 2025, in Limón Province, Costa Rica, at age 54. According to sources, he drowned after being caught in a strong current while swimming in the ocean. His death was widely reported in North American media, including in Canada, where his work had been syndicated.

In short

  • Rose to fame as Theo Huxtable on *The Cosby Show*
  • Nominated for a Primetime Emmy for his role
  • Won a Grammy Award in 2015
  • Died in 2025 after drowning in Costa Rica
Canadian angle

He was widely known in Canada through North American television syndication, especially *The Cosby Show* and later U.S. television series broadcast to Canadian audiences.

Quick questions

Who was Malcolm-Jamal Warner?
He was an American actor, director, musician and poet, best known for playing Theo Huxtable on *The Cosby Show*.
What role made him famous?
His breakout role was Theodore Huxtable on NBC's *The Cosby Show*, which aired from 1984 to 1992.
How did Malcolm-Jamal Warner die?
He drowned in the ocean off Limón Province, Costa Rica, after being caught in a strong current while swimming.

Sources

  1. Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm-Jamal_Warner
    Supports: Birth and death dates, nationality, career overview, and death circumstances
  2. Television Academyhttps://www.televisionacademy.com/features/emmy-magazine/articles/malcolm-jamal-warner-foundation-interview
    Supports: Biographical details, Emmy nomination, directing credits, later television roles, Grammy recognition, and death
  3. The HistoryMakershttps://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/malcolm-jamal-warner-41
    Supports: Birthplace and occupation as television actor and director
  4. IMDbhttps://www.imdb.com/name/nm0912528/
    Supports: Name, birthplace, career summary, and role in *The Cosby Show*
  5. Encyclopedia.comhttps://www.encyclopedia.com/people/literature-and-arts/film-and-television-biographies/malcolm-jamal-warner
    Supports: Career chronology and major television credits