The Cosby Show cast will never forget working with Malcolm-Jamal Warner.
From 1984 to 1992, Warner won over the hearts of viewers as he portrayed Theodore Huxtable on NBC’s iconic sitcom.
But after news broke on July 21 that the actor had died in Costa Rica from a tragic drowning, many of his costars started paying tribute and explaining why Warner was so much more than just a beloved actor.
Bill Cosby, Raven-Symoné, Keshia Knight Pulliam and other costars described a family man — who was married and the father of an 8-year-old daughter at the time of his death — who loved acting and performing.
Hollywood is mourning The Cosby Show actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who died on Sunday, July 20, at age 54. News of Warner’s death stunned and devastated his friends and colleagues, many of whom shared tributes to the late star via social media on Monday, July 21. Tracee Ellis Ross, who starred on the BET series Reed […]
They also confirmed to fans that The Cosby Show cast remained close and stayed a family unit — even after the show came to an end in 1992.
Keep reading to see how The Cosby Show remembered Warner after his death at age 54:
Bill Cosby
Malcolm-Jamal Warner and Bill Cosby NBC /Courtesy Everett Collection
Cosby mourned the loss of his onscreen son with a personal statement.
“This reminds me of the call I got when I was taping The Cosby Show and I got a call saying that my son, Ennis, had been murdered,” Cosby told Us Weekly via his rep, Andrew Wyatt, on July 21. “It’s just devastating.”
Cosby — whose son Ennis died in 1997 in a failed robbery attempt at the age of 27 — said that he and Warner kept in touch and spoke just “three weeks ago about a performance” he did in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
“He was so ecstatic about how the crowd received him,” Cosby continued. “Malcolm was changing the world, humanizing the world through his acting, his music, his poetry and even his new podcast. … You never heard anything negative about the child actors from The Cosby Show. No drugs, no alcohol, none of that. Even though I was their TV dad, I never stopped being their father figure.”
Raven-Symoné
Raven-Symone and Malcolm-Jamal Warner Carsey-Werner Co. Courtesy: Everett Collection
“Words cannot describe the pain and the sadness and surprise that I feel with the recent loss of MJW,” Symoné — who played Olivia Kendall on the final seasons of The Cosby Show — said in an audio recording shared via Instagram on July 22. “He was the big brother, he was a beacon, he was one of the most multifaceted, talented men. So gentle, and my heart and soul and hugs and kisses go out to his daughter and his wife and his mother.”
Keshia Knight Pulliam
In a heartfelt social media post, Pulliam — who played Rudy Huxtable — shared a video of Warner playing a concert at City Winery in Atlanta. She also shared a brief clip of two young girls — presumably the pair’s daughters — walking with a horse.
“A week ago I lost my big brother but I gained an angel,” Pulliam wrote via Instagram on July 27. “I love you… I miss you… We got our girls. ❤️”
Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s friend Candace Kelley is looking back on her fond memories and moments with the late star. “On average, Malcolm and I would text every other day and speak once or twice a week,” Kelley exclusively told Us Weekly of Warner on Wednesday, July 23. The pair, who became friends two years ago, cohosted […]
Geoffrey Owens
The actor — who played Elvin Tibideaux on NBC’s sitcom — expressed his sadness over the loss of Warner.
“This tragedy has almost left me speechless,” Owens told Us in a statement on July 22. “Malcolm was a lovely man, a sweet and sensitive soul. I respected him for many reasons, including the fact that he genuinely loved the act of creation. He had the mind of an actor and the heart of a musician. He was generous too. I did a theater project long ago and asked him to participate, and he was there for me. My heart goes out to his family.”
Adam Sandler
Sandler — who played Smitty on The Cosby Show — recalled working alongside Warner.
“I can’t believe it,” he shared with Entertainment Tonight on July 21. “Malcolm was so nice to me when I was on the show and we had such good times together. I was probably 18 and Malcolm was probably 17, 16, I don’t know. We would take walks together, all of us and pick up food, talk, play basketball, hang out on the weekends and go to parties together.”
“I’m just sending my love to the family. Malcolm is a true great person, hilarious, smart kid and meant a lot to America,” he concluded. “Absolute great man, I’m so sorry to his wife and his child too.”
Malcolm-Jamal Warner got candid about his legacy in his final public interview two months before his death. Warner, who tragically died at 54 years old on Sunday, July 20, after an accidental drowning, opened up about how he hoped to be remembered during his May 21 appearance on Melyssa Ford’s “Hot & Bothered” podcast. “I […]
Karen Malina White
“What a profound Karmic Relationship my friend. Thank you 🙇🏽♀️,” White — who played Charmaine Brown — wrote via Instagram on July 22. “Until we meet again ❤️ Love you Always in All Ways 😉 My deepest condolences to Pam Warner, his wife and daughter 🙏🏾💔.”
Gary LeRoi Gray
Gary L. Gray and Malcolm-Jamal Warner Courtesy of Gary L Gray / Instagram
In his tribute, Gray — who played Nelson Thibideux in the show’s final year — said he kept in touch with Warner as he continued to grow in the industry.
“You were mythical. A Black boy didn’t have much to look up to coming up in my era. Even ones we thought were idols have turned out to be coal dressed in chrome,” he wrote via Instagram on July 22. “You were the real deal.”
Chris and Clayton Griggs
Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Chris and Clayton Griggs Courtesy of Clayton & Chris Griggs / Instagram
The Griggs brothers — who played a younger Nelson Thibideux for just over a year — shared their positive memories working with Warner.
“Brother Malcolm-Jamal Warner was so much more than a legend to us he was family. A true friend, a mentor, and a constant source of inspiration🔮,” the brothers wrote via Instagram on July 22. “We give thanks for the wonderful conversations, time and the love you showed us.”
