Malcolm-Jamal Warner, ‘Cosby Show’ Star, Dies at 54

Malcolm-Jamal Warner, star of “The Cosby Show” and “Malcolm & Eddie,” has died. He was 54.

A representative of Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Agency confirmed the actor’s death to NBC News. The death occurred the afternoon of July 20 in Playa Grande de Cocles, Limon, Costa Rica, according to the representative.

Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Agency also provided a statement, obtained by TODAY.com, with more details about Warner’s death.

“On Sunday afternoon, July 20, 2025, agents of the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ), stationed at the Bribri Regional Subdelegation, carried out the removal of the body of a male who apparently died as a result of Asphyxia by Submersion,” the agency said.

The OIJ said that the preliminary report showed that the accident occurred between 2 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. local time.

According to the report, the male victim entered the water and “apparently was dragged by a current offshore.” The man was rescued and taken to the shore before the Costa Rican Red Cross attempted to revive him. “However, he was declared without vital signs at the scene,” the report said.

OIJ agents examined the body and confirmed Warner’s identity. His body has been sent to the Judicial Morgue in San Joaquin de Flores for an autopsy.

Warner first became a household name in 1984 when he landed the role of Theo Huxtable on “The Cosby Show” with Bill Cosby, Phylicia Rashad, Keshia Knight Pulliam and Tempestt Bledsoe. He remained on the beloved sitcom for its entire eight-season run. His portrayal landed him an Emmy nomination in 1986.

Following the show’s series finale in 1992, he began voicing The Producer in the animated series “The Magic School Bus” before booking a leading role in another comedy, “Malcolm & Eddie.” He co-starred alongside Eddie Griffin in the sitcom about two close friends who are the complete opposites of each other.

In 2011, he teamed up with fellow comedy icon Tracee Ellis Ross for a family sitcom called “Reed Between the Lines” that aired on BET. The show followed Warner’s and Ross’ characters as they led their modern, blended family. The two actors also served as producers.

A few years after “Reed Between the Lines” ended, Warner donned a lab coat to play surgeon AJ Austin when he joined the cast of Fox’s “The Resident” in Season 1 as a recurring character. He became a series regular when the medical drama returned for Season 2 and continued to star on the show until its last episode in 2023.

In between his starring roles, Warner, who also worked as a director, booked smaller parts on popular shows like “9-1-1,” “Suits,” “American Crime Story,” “Community,” “Sons of Anarchy” and more. His final role was playing Chief Inspector Bill Houston on “Alert: Missing Persons Unit.” He appeared in the drama’s series finale, which aired on May 27.

He also had roles on the silver screen, playing characters in films like “Fool’s Gold” with Matthew McConaughey, Kate Hudson and Donald Sutherland and “Restaurant” with Adrien Brody.

Warner was a star on the stage, as well. He acted in plays like “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner,” giving his take on Sidney Poitier’s legendary role.

Warner was a two-time Grammy nominee, winning best traditional R&B performance in 2015 for “Jesus Children.”

When he appeared on TODAY in June 2024, Warner spoke about his podcast “Not All Hood,” which tackled, in his words, the “different facets of being Black.” (The most recent episode of his podcast, which he co-hosted with Candace Kelley, was uploaded on July 18.)

During the conversation, he opened up about becoming a child star. “It was a phenomenon out the box. I’m 14 and my mom says to me, ‘Listen, baby, it’s great that this show is the phenomenon that it is, but you know how this business is. This show could be over next year.’ She said, ‘What are you going to do when the show’s over?’”

He said that conversation made him always think about “longevity” in his career and that it might be difficult to transfer into adult roles. So, he started mapping out his future.

As the interview ended, he offered some powerful parting words: “Vulnerability can be a scary thing, even when we’re on the mend. Black boys boast bravado not to seem broken, and often so do Black men.”

Aside from his work in Hollywood for over four decades, Warner was a proud father, too. In September 2019, he gushed about his daughter, whose name he did not publicly share, in a sweet Instagram post that featured photos showing the toddler wearing a Puerto Rico shirt and playing in a fountain.

In the caption, he wrote in part, “Growing up, when people would praise my mother for being such an incredible parent, she would always say that, in me, she had great material to work with. Mom, I get it now. We have also been blessed in that way. And we feel honored and blessed to be backed by a village of family and intimate friends to who love our daughter deeply and share in the honor our job to nurture, support, encourage, and protect her precious light.”

He added, “Thank you for sharing in my joy as a father even though I don’t post her face. She has the rest of her life for that life. Right now I just want her to BE…but it doesn’t stop me from BEing a proud papa!”