Malcolm-Jamal Warner Dead At 54: 'Cosby Show' Star Dies 'As a Result of Accidental Drowning'
Malcolm-Jamal Warner has passed away aged 54.
July 21 2025, Published 1:35 p.m. ET
The Cosby Show star Malcolm-Jamal Warner has passed away aged 54, RadarOnline.com can reveal.
While details of Warner's death remain uncertain, a source reportedly said the actor's death was the "result of an accidental drowning."
Sources reportedly said Warner died in an 'accidental drowning' while swimming in Costa Rica.
Warner was reportedly on a family vacation in Costa Rica when he died.
He's survived by his wife and daughter, though he chose to keep their identities private.
He was best known for playing Bill Cosby's on-screen son, Theodore 'Theo' Huxtable, on The Cosby Show, which ran from 1984 to 1992 – and picked up an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.
Legacy
Warner starred in several TV shows and voiced The Producer character on 'The Magic School Bus.'
Following The Cosby Show, Warner continued to show off his talents on-screen, starring alongside Eddie Griffin in Malcolm & Eddie from 1996 to 2000 and played Dr. Alex Reed in Reed Between the Lines, for which he earned a NAACP Image Awards nomination for Outstanding Actor in a comedy series in 2012.
He also played Sticky in the hit FX series Sons of Anarchy and prison counselor Julius Rowe on Suits.
Warner additionally lent his voice to The Producer character on the classic children's cartoon The Magic School Bus.
'Still Proud' of 'The Cosby Show'
In 2023, Warner said he was 'still proud' of 'The Cosby Show's legacy' despite Bill Cosby's sexual assault scandal.
While reflecting on his time working on The Cosby Show, Warner reportedly said in 2023: "I know I can speak for all the cast when I say The Cosby Show is something that we are all still very proud of.
"We share a unique experience that keeps us lovingly bonded no matter how much time goes between seeing or hearing from each other."
Warner went on to acknowledge the complicated feelings many feel about the beloved show due to Cosby's sexual assault scandal.
He said: "Regardless of how some people may feel about the show now, I'm still proud of the legacy and having been a part of such an iconic show that had such a profound impact on — first and foremost, Black culture — but also American culture."
'Not All Hood' Podcast
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Warner launched the 'Not All Hood' podcast before his death.
Prior to his shocking death, Warner launched the Not All Hood podcast with co-hosts Weusi Baraka and Candace Kelley. The podcast aimed to address stigmas and break down barriers about mental health in the Black community.
In June 2024, Warner said: "It's been an interesting experience for me, because it's a place where I feel safe enough to be able to be as vulnerable as I allow myself to be.
"When we talk about the Black community, we tend to speak of it as a monolith when the reality is there are so many different facets of the Black community, and we wanted to have a space where we can really explore, discuss, and acknowledge all of those different aspects."
Not All Hood released a new episode just three days before his death.
