'Cosby Show' star Malcolm-Jamal Warner dies at 54 in drowning tragedy

Actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, best known for his role as Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show, has died at the age of 54 after drowning off the coast of Costa Rica.

Costa Rica’s National Police confirmed that Warner died on Sunday near Cocles Beach in the province of Limón. Authorities said he was caught in a strong ocean current and succumbed to asphyxia due to drowning.

His body was recovered that afternoon and formally identified by local officials.

Warner had been vacationing with his daughter at the time of the incident, according to sources who spoke to TMZ. His family has not issued a public statement.

Warner rose to fame in the 1980s as the wisecracking yet warm-hearted Theo on The Cosby Show, a role he played for all eight seasons from 1984 to 1992. He received an Emmy nomination in 1986 for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.

In the decades following the show’s success, Warner remained active in television, co-starring in Malcolm & Eddie from 1996 to 2000, appearing in Reed Between the Lines, and playing Dr. AJ Austin in The Resident, a role he held for five seasons. He also had numerous guest appearances across popular series and worked as a voice actor, famously voicing a character on The Magic School Bus.

Warner also delved into poetry, directing, and music. He earned a Grammy Award in 2015 for Best Traditional R&B Performance.

Warner remained private about his personal life, but he is survived by his wife and daughter. His most recent creative effort was the podcast Not All Hood, with the latest episode released just days before his passing.

Warner would have turned 55 next month.

IOL