Malcolm-Jamal Warner, the beloved actor who famously portrayed Theo Huxtable, the son of Bill Cosby’s character on the iconic 1980s sitcom The Cosby Show, has died at the age of 54. Warner tragically drowned while swimming during a family vacation in Costa Rica on Sunday, July 20, 2025.
According to the Costa Rican Judicial Investigation Department, Warner was swimming off Playa Grande de Cocles in the Limon province when a strong current pulled him underwater.
Although he was initially rescued by bystanders on the beach, emergency responders from Costa Rica’s Red Cross found him unresponsive. He was pronounced dead on the scene, with the official cause of death recorded as asphyxia due to drowning.
Born on August 18, 1970, in Jersey City, New Jersey, Warner began acting at a young age and rose to fame as the witty and charismatic Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show, which aired from 1984 to 1992. His performance earned him an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 1986.
Beyond The Cosby Show, Warner starred in other television series such as Malcolm & Eddie (1996–2000) alongside Eddie Griffin, Reed Between the Lines (2011–2015), and more recently, The Resident (2018–2023). He was also a director, spoken-word artist, and Grammy Award winner.
Warner had spoken publicly about the complex legacy of The Cosby Show, acknowledging the show’s profound cultural impact while recognising the controversy surrounding Bill Cosby’s legal issues later in life.
