Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who rose to fame playing Theo Huxtable on the long-running sitcom “The Cosby Show,” has died at age 54, authorities said Monday.
A representative for the Costa Rican National Police told ABC News that Warner drowned off the coast of Costa Rica on Sunday, and his official cause of death was listed as asphyxia. Police told the network Warner died near Cocles, a beach in Limon, Costa Rica, when he got caught in a high current.
Warner portrayed Theo Huxtable throughout the run of “The Cosby Show,” which aired from 1984 to 1992 on NBC and was one of television’s top comedies, winning the Emmy for outstanding comedy series in 1985. Warner was nominated for an Emmy as best supporting actor in a comedy series in 1986.
Theo was the son of Bill Cosby’s Heathcliff Huxtable and Phylicia Rashad’s Claire Huxtable.
Warner also starred alongside Eddie Griffin on the 1996-2000 UPN comedy “Malcolm & Eddie” and in shows including “Jeremiah,” “Listen Up,” and “Reed Between the Lines.”
Warner is survived by a wife and daughter.
Cosby told Jericka Duncan of CBS News that he had spoken with Rashad and “we were embracing each other over the phone about a dearly beloved friend because Malcolm’s mother was also his manager, and Malcolm was always embracing relationships.”
Cosby spokesman Andrew Wyatt told the New York Post that Cosby said that hearing the news “reminded him of the same call he received when his son died.”
Ennis Cosby, the comedian’s only son, was shot and killed during an attempted robbery while changing a flat tire on Skirball Center Drive in the Brentwood area after pulling off the San Diego (405) Freeway in 1997.
Actress Tracee Ellis Ross, who starred with Warner in the 2011 BET comedy “Reed Between the Lines,” took to Instagram to praise her former co-star, writing, “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.”
Actor Henry Winkler wrote, “This is a real tragedy. I have met Malcolm many times but never had the pleasure of working with him. It was a pleasure to know this talented young man. May he rest in peace.”
Basketball Hall of Famer Magic Johnson said he and his wife Cookie “were both super fans of the hit `Cosby Show’ and continued to follow his career on shows like `Malcolm and Eddie’ and `The Resident.’ Every time I ran into Malcolm, we would have deep and fun conversations about basketball, life, and business. He will truly be missed.”