Drowning accident kills Malcolm-Jamal Warner, 54, of Cosby Show fame
Shocking news

Malcolm-Jamal Warner, well known for his role as Theo Huxtable on 'The Cosby Show', has suddenly died at age 54.
The cause of death

The actor got caught in a strong current in the waters of Costa Rica and drowned as a result, TMZ reports.
A child actor

The actor had started with small roles in series such as 'Fame' (1983), 'Call to Glory' (1984), and Matlock (1987). His big breakthrough was 'The Cosby Show'.
The Cosby Show

At the time he played Theo Huxtable, the only brother of The Cosby Show's family, Malcolm-Jamal Warner was only 14 years old. We saw him grow into a man on TV for eight years.
After 'The Cosby Show'

After the famous sitcom, he continued working on TV. We could see him in series like 'Here and Now' (1992 - 1993), 'Malcolm & Eddie' (1996–2000), 'Jeremiah' (2002 - 2004), and 'Listen Up' (2004-2005).
Primetime Emmy nomination

At only 16 years old, he got his first Primetime Emmy nomination in the category of Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.
Tragedy in his personal life

He was in a long-term relationship with Michelle Thomas, also an actress. They were together until she died in 1998 due to a rare type of cancer (an intra-abdominal desmoplastic small-round-cell tumor).
A private family

In later years, TMZ reported, the actor was married and had a daughter. He was very discreet about his relatives. On the day he died, the star was with his loved ones on a family vacation in Costa Rica, CNN reports.
Picture: Malcolm-Jamal Warner / Instagram
Still a familiar face on TV

In recent years, the famous actor remained active on the screens and the radio. He participated in productions such as 'The Resident' (2018 - 2023), '9-1-1' (2024), 'Grown-ish' (2024), the podcast 'Not All Hood (NAH)' (2024), and 'Alert: Missing Persons Unit' (2025).
"I love you, Malcolm"

Tracee Ellis Ross wrote an emotional message to her colleague and dear friend. "I love you, Malcolm," she wrote. "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."
"We were both super fans of the hit Cosby Show"

"Every time I ran into Malcolm, we would have deep and fun conversations about basketball, life, and business. He will truly be missed," Magic Johnson wrote on X. "Cookie and I are praying his family and close friends during this difficult time."