Malcolm-Jamal Warner, star of The Cosby Present, dies aged 54

[ad_1] Malcolm-Jamal Warner, an actor finest recognized for his function as Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Present, has died.

Warner, who was 54, drowned on Sunday whereas on trip in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Company confirmed the dying in a information launch.

Warner seems to have been dragged out to sea by a swift ocean present whereas swimming at Playa Grande round 14:00 native time in Cocles, a city within the province of Limón, native authorities mentioned.

Warner performed the son of Invoice Cosby on the massively-popular US sitcom from 1984-1992.

Authorities mentioned bystanders rescued Warner and introduced him to shore, the place the Costa Rican Purple Cross tried to deal with him, however he was declared lifeless on the scene.

He's survived by his spouse and daughter.

Warner was Emmy-nominated within the Excellent Supporting Actor in a comedy collection for his work on The Cosby Present in 1986.

He was handpicked for his breakout function by Cosby on the ultimate day of a nationwide audition.

"I used to be actually the final individual they noticed," he recalled in a 2023 interview.

The Cosby Present ranked because the primary TV present for 5 seasons from 1985 to 1990. It portrayed a comfy middle-class household - a comparatively uncommon depiction on the time of black Individuals on tv.

"When the present first got here out, there have been white individuals and black individuals speaking about (how) the Huxtables do not actually exist, black individuals do not actually stay like that," Warner mentioned in a 2013 interview.

"In the meantime, we have been getting tens of 1000's of fan letters from individuals saying, 'Thanks a lot for this present.'"

After The Cosby Present, Warner appeared in a number of different tv programmes together with Malcom & Eddie, alongside comic Eddie Griffin.

Griffin paid respects to him on social media after his dying, writing "R.I.P. King" and "My large little brother".

He had visitor appearances on the Contemporary Prince of Bel-Air and Sesame Avenue. Extra not too long ago, he performed AJ Austin, a cardio-thoracic surgeon on the medical drama collection The Resident.

Warner additionally gained a Grammy for Greatest Conventional R&B Efficiency in 2015, alongside Robert Glasper and Lalah Hathaway for his or her cowl of Stevie Marvel's track Jesus Kids of America.

His spoken phrase album "Hiding In Plain View" garnered him one other Grammy nomination in 2023.

Final 12 months, he began a podcast - "Not All Hood" - which mentioned psychological well being within the black group.

Former co-stars and followers has been posting their tributes to him on-line.

Basketball star Magic Johnson, who appeared in an AIDS consciousness video directed by Warner, wrote that he and his spouse have been "each tremendous followers of the hit Cosby Present and continued to comply with his profession" through the years.

"Each time I bumped into Malcolm, we might have deep and enjoyable conversations about basketball, life, and enterprise. He'll really be missed," Johnson wrote.

Tracee Ellis Ross, who starred with Warner on Reed Between the Traces, additionally mourned him, writing: "My coronary heart is so so unhappy. What an actor and pal you have been: heat, mild, current, type, considerate, deep, humorous, elegant. You made the world a brighter place.

"Sending a lot like to your loved ones. I am so sorry for this unimaginable loss."

Actress Niecy Nash posted that she had simply spoken to Warner.

"We talked about how blissful we each have been in our marriages. Rattling pal. You have been cornerstone of The Cosby Present. All of us cherished Theo! By no means to be forgotten. You may be missed. Relaxation Simple."

Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock additionally praised him, writing in a submit: "For me and so many in my technology, Malcolm-Jamal Warner was part of our childhood, a brother whose character 'Theo' felt like one in all my very own.