When you have to report on a death, it’s always tragic. But...Oh My God, nothing hits harder than the death of someone you grew up with. And it shakes something even deeper when the person was young, who carried their self with humility, who never made headlines for scandal, and who seemed like an all around good person. Those are the losses that hurt the most and the ones that feel personal. For me, Malcolm-Jamal Warner was that person.
Malcolm-Jamal Warner wasn’t just another celebrity. For so many of us, he was like family or the kid from your neighborhood. We informally grew up with him, watching him stumble, grow, laugh, and learn as Theo Huxtable, the brother we wished we had and the teenager who reflected our own awkwardness and dreams.
Malcolm‑Jamal Warner died on July 20, 2025, at age 54, during a family vacation in Costa Rica. He was swimming at Playa Cocles (Limón Province) when he was pulled by a powerful rip current. Struggling to return, he was rescued but found unresponsive by Costa Rican Red Cross personnel. The official cause of death is asphyxia due to drowning, confirmed by local authorities.
Born on August 18, 1970, in Jersey City, New Jersey, Warner began acting at an early age and was cast as Theo Huxtable at just 13 years old. His breakout role on The Cosby Show (1984–1992) earned him an Emmy nomination and placed him at the center of one of television’s most influential families. After The Cosby Show, Warner starred in his own UPN sitcom Malcolm & Eddie from 1996 to 2000 and later appeared in series like Reed Between the Lines, Suits, The Resident, Major Crimes, 9-1-1, and American Crime Story. In addition to his on-camera work, Warner was an accomplished director and poet. He directed episodes of several shows, including All That and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and won a Grammy Award in 2015 for Best Traditional R&B Performance for his collaboration on Jesus Children with Robert Glasper and Lalah Hathaway.
Jesus Children by Robert Glasper [featuring Lalah Hathaway and Malcolm-Jamal Warner]
As a voice actor, Warner made a lasting impact on educational children’s television by voicing “The Producer” in over 40 episodes of The Magic School Bus (1994–1997), delivering post-episode explanations to young viewers. He also lent his voice to animated and faith-based projects like The Legend of the Candy Cane and made appearances in Static Shock and Touched by an Angel, further demonstrating his versatility as a performer.
Public figures and organizations mourned his passing:
Tributes poured in from across the entertainment world after Warner’s death. Jennifer Hudson, Tracee Ellis Ross, Jamie Foxx, Adam Sandler, Magic Johnson, Eddie Griffin, and Marlee Matlin were among those who honored him on social media. Organizations such as the NAACP and The King Center lauded his generosity, activism, and cultural contributions.
Warner married and had one daughter, though he kept their identities private. He was known for safeguarding his family’s privacy.
Warner kept much of his private life out of the spotlight but had a few high-profile relationships.
In the 1990s, he dated his Cosby Show co-star Michelle Thomas until her tragic passing from cancer in 1998, a loss that deeply affected him.
In the 2010s, he was romantically linked to actresses Karen Malina White.
He dated and lived with actress, Regina King. His relationship with King, which lasted from 2011 to 2013, was notably public.
Just one month before his tragic death, Warner reunited with Cosby Show co‑star Keshia Knight Pulliam on the Not All Hood podcast, reflecting on their lifelong bond as former child actors and their daughters’ friendship. He hosted the latest episode of the podcast three days ago.
Malcolm‑Jamal Warner embodied inner strength, artistic versatility, and cultural influence. He helped redefine the portrayal of Black middle‑class family life on television, an impact lasting decades. His passing is felt deeply within the entertainment world and beyond.
Warner is survived by his wife and daughter. His family, friends, and countless fans mourn a gifted actor, devoted father, and thoughtful voice whose work transcended generations. Rest in Power, Mr. Warner.