Celebrities React To The Tragic And Unexpected Death Of Malcolm-Jamal Warner
How did your country report this? Share your view in the comments.
Diverging Reports Breakdown
Celebrities React To The Tragic And Unexpected Death Of Malcolm-Jamal Warner
Malcolm-Jamal Warner died on Sunday, July 20, after drowning in Costa Rica. He was widely known for playing beloved characters on The Cosby Show, Dr. AJ Austin on The Resident, and The Producer, who appeared at the end of every episode of The Magic School Bus. His official cause of death was asphyxia and was deemed an “accidental drowning” Malcolm is survived by a wife and daughter, whose identities he opted to keep private. The New Jersey native kicked off his career in Hollywood as a child actor and has remained booked and busy for over 40 years, so it’s no surprise that so many of his peers and fans honored his legacy with sweet memories they’ve shared together, and kind words about who he was as a person, and the undeinable impact he’s left behind. “If you looked like me coming of age in the 80s, Malcolm-Theo was a gps/lighthouse of navigating safety to adulthood,” Amy Sussman wrote on Instagram.
Derek White / Getty Images
Malcolm was pronounced dead on Sunday, July 20, after drowning in Costa Rica. He was vacationing with family when he was reportedly “dragged by a water current at the beach.” His official cause of death was asphyxia and was deemed an “accidental drowning.” Malcolm was 54.
Paras Griffin / Getty Images for SCAD aTVfest 2020
Related: “Rude, Crass, Entitled Piece Of Garbage”: People Are Revealing Their Best And Worst Celebrity Encounters, And These Are Genuinely Soooo Fascinating
Malcolm was widely known for playing beloved characters like Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show, Dr. AJ Austin on The Resident, and The Producer, who appeared at the end of every episode of The Magic School Bus.
Mario Casilli / TV Guide / ©NBC / courtesy Everett Collection
Malcolm is survived by a wife and daughter, whose identities he opted to keep private.
Monty Brinton/©CBS/Courtesy Everett Collection
Advertisement Advertisement
Advertisement Advertisement
The New Jersey native kicked off his career in Hollywood as a child actor and has remained booked and busy for over 40 years, so it’s no surprise that so many of his peers and fans honored his legacy with sweet memories they’ve shared together, and kind words about who he was as a person, and the undeinable impact he’s left behind.
Cindy Ord / Getty Images
Related: 21 Celebs Who Took Normal Jobs After Their Hollywood Money Ran Out
Taraji P. Henson took to Instagram to share her feelings on the loss: “This one hurt. Malcolm, we grew up with you. Thank you for the art, the wisdom, the grace you gave us!!!!! You left the world better than you found it. Rest easy, king!!!! Your legacy lives far beyond the screen.”
Randy Shropshire / Variety via Getty Images, Johnny Nunez / WireImage
Advertisement Advertisement
Advertisement Advertisement
Eddie Griffin, who co-starred with Malcolm on the hit ’90s sitcom Malcom & Eddie, wrote this about his friend: “My Heart is heavy today…For what the world lost was a Father a Son a Poet a Musician a Actor a Teacher a Writer a Director a Friend a Warrior that I had the pleasure of going to war with against the Hollywood machine and sometimes with each other because that’s what Brothers do but the Love was and is always there. You’ve taught me so much and I thank you. Rest Well My Big little Brother.”
UPN/Courtesy Everett Collection
Tracee Ellis Ross honored her TV husband from their show Reed Between the Lines: “I love you, Malcolm. First I met you as Theo with the rest of the world then you were my first TV husband. My heart is so so sad. What an actor and friend you were: warm, gentle, present, kind, thoughtful, deep, funny, elegant. You made the world a brighter place. Sending so much love to your family. I’m so sorry for this unimaginable loss.”
Johnny Nunez / WireImage
Jamie Foxx was at a loss for words: “Speechless on this one rest in power, my brother.”
Jeff Kravitz / FilmMagic, Inc
Related: I’m Honestly Really Impressed By These 16 Celebrities Who Worked “Regular” Jobs After Becoming Famous
Niecy Nash Betts sadly recalled that she just spoke to him recently: “My God we just spoke. You were giving me my flowers for my work in @grotesqueriefx and we talked about how happy we both were in our marriages. Damn friend You were cornerstone of The Cosby Show. We all loved Theo! Never to be forgotten. You will be missed. Rest Easy.”
Todd Williamson / Getty Images
Advertisement Advertisement
Advertisement Advertisement
Legendary actor, dancer and director, Debbie Allen, guest-starred on The Cosby Show alongside her sister Phylicia Rashad, and wrote this sweet message: “Malcolm, you are so loved. Gone too soon 🥲. Thank you for the joy, creativity and hope you brought the World. We will forever speak your name.”
Amy Sussman / Getty Images, Monica Schipper / Getty Images
Questlove wrote two lengthy posts about seeing himself in Malcolm at a young age: “If you looked like me coming of age in the 80s, Malcom-as-Theo was a gps/lighthouse of navigating safety to adulthood. For those of us that didnt have ‘examples’ or ‘safe environments’—I would like to think for anyone of age we used this entire show —and its offspring as life blueprints Losing the Huxtables was a painful divorce I wasn’t ready for but I never once thought about the offspring of that show transitioning before I did.”
Alberto Rodriguez / Variety via Getty Images, Deadline / Deadline via Getty Images
Advertisement Advertisement
Advertisement Advertisement
“Seeing myself in every episode through his shoes: like being bad at football, wanting clothes outside of my budget, hiding things from your parents (ear piercings or weed), living in a ‘respectable politics’ house of jazz vs ‘teen music’ —-pssssh Theo being instrumental to a lion’s share of gen x teens to see how a sampler worked!!! Or even singalongs at a family gathering—-him dealing with dyslexia ——he even had me think I too can get by in life surviving on ‘bologna & cereal’ and for the first time thinking about ‘what does it mean to be an adult without depending on your parents?’
Alot of us only had the Huxtables to vicariously live through and I was Malcolm. Meeting him on 94 was a thrill when I first got in the biz.
Mal Jam was the earliest co-signer of the Roots. He attended many a show way before the world got to know us. All that time talking about music extensively and we never got our chance to collaborate as we said we would.He was an amazing soul who always took the time out to school me and talk about his experiences in life and the business. We always traded music and playlists with each other and despite all that he went through in life he expressed ZERO cynicism or bitterness in his journey and constantly lived in the present which dictated his future——he was never the guy stuck in a glory days bubble (but always graciously obliged me when I asked a gajillion questions of ‘what was it like back then?!!).’I wasn’t prepared to say goodbye in this manner but here we are in 2025. Love & Strength to his family and his loved ones and all of the people his life’s journey inspired.Thank you Mal Jammin On The One!”
Jennifer Love Hewitt spoke on working with Malcolm on the hit procedural drama series 9-1-1: “I cannot believe this. This hurts my heart. A gentleman, an incredible talent, and we were so lucky to have him in the 9-1-1 family. Heartbroken and sending love to his family.”
Chris Willard / Disney
Vivica A. Fox highlighted the “gifts” Malcolm shared with the world: “I’m stunned & saddened to hear about the passing of Malcolm Jamal Warner. Thanks for ya gifts king. #GoneTooSoon #RestInParadise #RestInPeace.”
Jeff Vespa / WireImage
Related: This ’90s Icon Is Headed For Divorce After 21 Years Of Marriage
Regina King, who dated Malcolm from 2011-2013 and remained friends, shared personal photos of him with this sincere note:
Advertisement Advertisement
Advertisement Advertisement
Regina King / Instagram: @iamreginaking
Sherri Shepherd wrote an earnest message about her friend, who she remembered being really “grounded” and a modern-day “renaissance man.”
Lastly, Quinta Brunson
This doesn’t even begin to cover all of the people he affected throughout his life and career. I’ll continue to update this as more tributes are posted.
Randy Shropshire / Deadline via Getty Images
And if you were a fan of Malcolm, please feel free to comment your memories of him below!
Also in Celebrity: 34 Cringey Celeb Moments That I Feel Like Everyone Collectively Forgot
Also in Celebrity: “It’s Always Fat People”: 28 Times Celebrities Said Some Really, Really Messed-Up Stuff That Just Flew Under The Radar
Also in Celebrity: 22 “Blatantly Out Of Touch” Celebrity Moments That Have The Internet In Shambles Even Years After They Happened
Read it on BuzzFeed.com