The Cosby Show actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who played Theo Huxtable, dies aged 54

One of the original cast members of The Cosby Show, one of the biggest US sitcoms of all time, has tragically died while on a family holiday.

The Cosby Show star Malcolm-Jamal Warner has died at 54.

Warner was in Costa Rica on a family holiday and drowned while swimming near Cocles after allegedly being caught by a high current.

Costa Rican National Police told The Post that Warner was pulled from the water by people in the area and taken to shore, where the Costa Rica Red Cross tried to revive him but were unsuccessful in their efforts.

Warner’s cause of death was asphyxia, according to the police.

The cast of The Cosby Show — Tempestt Bledsoe, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Lisa Bonet, Phylicia Rashad, Keshia Knight Pulliam and Bill Cosby. Picture: NBCU

Warner played Theodore “Theo” Huxtable, son of Bill Cosby’s Cliff Huxtable, on the NBC sitcom from 1984 to 1992.

In 2021, Warner exclusively spoke to The Post about the legacy of The Cosby Show following Cosby’s sex assault conviction that was later overturned.

“I can understand why some people can’t watch the show and enjoy it because of everything that’s going on now,” Warner told The Post.

“But I think … there’s a generation of young people who have pursued higher education or have started loving families because of the influence of that show.”

“So it’s kind of like, you can’t discount its impact on television culture and American culture,” he added.

The 54-year-old tragically drowned in Costa Rica. Picture: AP

Warner was born in Jersey City, New Jersey on August 18, 1970.

He was named after Malcolm X and jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal.

His career began as a child performer, and he attended the Professional Children’s School in New York City.

Warner auditioned for the role of Theo on the last day of the show’s nationwide search and was selected by Cosby, per Variety.

He starred alongside Cosby, Phylicia Rashad as Clair Huxtable, Sabrina Le Beauf as Sondra Huxtable, Lisa Bonet as Denise Huxtable, Tempestt Bledsoe as Vanessa Huxtable and Keshia Knight Pulliam as Rudy Huxtable.

He was nominated for an Emmy Award in 1986, the same year he hosted an episode of Saturday Night Live.

Warner, seen here in 2015, was best known for The Cosby Show but actually had a long list of credits. Picture: AP

After The Cosby Show, Warner starred in the sitcom Malcolm & Eddie alongside Eddie Griffin from 1996 to 2000, followed by another sitcom Reed Between the Lines from 2011 to 2015.

Warner’s other notable acting credits included Here and Now, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Jeremiah, Listen Up, Community, Sons of Anarchy, American Horror Story: Freak Show, American Crime Story, Suits and 9-1-1.

From 2018 to 2023, Warner played Dr. AJ Austin on The Resident.

He also directed an episode of the Fox medical show.

Warner was also the voice of the Producer character on The Magic School Bus.

Most recently, Warner appeared in three episodes of Fox’s Alert: Missing Persons Unit that aired earlier this year.

Malcolm-Jamal Warner, pictured here in 2024. Picture: Getty Images

Outside of acting, Warner won a Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance for his song Jesus Children with Robert Glasper featuring Lalah Hathaway in 2015.

In January, he started the podcast Not All Hood with Weusi Baraka and Candace Kelley that “takes a provocative look at the vastly different lived experiences and identities of blacks in America.”

Warner dated Michelle Thomas, who played his girlfriend on The Cosby Show.

Thomas died in 1998 of a desmoplastic tumour at 30.

He was also in relationships with actors Karen Malina White from 2000 to 2007 and Regina King from 2011 to 2013.

Warner is survived by his wife and daughter, whom he chose to keep private.

Originally published as The Cosby Show actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who played Theo Huxtable, dies aged 54