Bill Cosby, Raven-Symoné speak out on 'Cosby Show' costar Malcolm-Jamal Warner's death
Bill Cosby is paying tribute to his TV son Malcolm-Jamal Warner.
Warner, who starred alongside Cosby on the beloved family sitcom "The Cosby Show," died from an apparent drowning on Sunday, July 20, after he was allegedly swept away by a current while in the Caribbean Sea, the country's Judicial Investigation Agency confirmed to Paste BN on July 22.
Warner was 54 at the time of his death. A representative for the actor did not respond to Paste BN's request for comment.
Warner played Theo Huxtable opposite Cosby's Dr. Heathcliff Huxtable for eight seasons on the iconic NBC series, which earned Warner a Primetime Emmy nomination for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy. In an interview with ABC News published Monday, July 21, Cosby reflected on his relationship with Warner.
"He was always a great studier, and I enjoyed working with him very much," Cosby, 88, told the outlet. "He always knew his part. … He always knew his lines, and he always knew where to go."
Warner was a 5-foot-5-inch, 13-year-old and "literally the last person" to audition for the role of Theo for "The Cosby Show," following a nationwide search, he told NPR in 2014. Show producers were looking for a taller Theo. However, Warner's audition, overseen by creator and star Cosby, led to the successful casting as the only son and middle child of five children in the famed TV family.
Bill Cosby recalls final conversation with Malcolm-Jamal Warner
Cosby, who served nearly three years in prison following a since-overturned 2018 conviction on sexual assault charges, told ABC News he kept in touch with Warner over the years, adding, "Malcolm calls here regularly."
The disgraced actor-comedian last spoke to Warner three weeks before his death, Cosby's representative Andrew Wyatt confirmed to Paste BN. Wyatt said Cosby caught up with an ecstatic Warner following a musical performance in Minneapolis. (Warner also dabbled in music and poetry, winning a Grammy Award for best traditional R&B performance in 2015.)
Additionally, Wyatt said Warner's tragic death reminded Cosby of the 1997 death of his son, Ennis Cosby. Ennis, who was 27 at the time, was murdered near Interstate 405 in Los Angeles after being shot in the head by 18-year-old Mikhail Markhasev in a failed robbery attempt.
Aside from his starring role on "The Cosby Show," Warner was also known for his performances as Malcolm McGee in the 1990s UPN sitcom "Malcolm & Eddie" and as Dr. AJ Austin on the Fox medical drama "The Resident" from 2018 to 2023.
Per Wyatt, Cosby said Warner's body of work as a performer will maintain his legacy and "continue to humanize" him to fans.
'Cosby Show' star Geoffrey Owens honors 'lovely' Malcolm-Jamal Warner
Geoffrey Owens, who starred as Elvin Tibideaux on "The Cosby Show," also paid tribute to Warner.
In a statement provided to Paste BN, the actor said, "This tragedy has almost left me speechless."
"Malcolm was a lovely man; a sweet and sensitive soul," he continued. "I respected him for many reasons, including the fact that he genuinely loved the act of creation. He had the mind of an actor and the heart of a musician. He was generous, too; I did a theater project long ago and asked him to participate; and he was there for me. My heart goes out to his family."
Raven-Symoné emotionally bids Malcolm-Jamel Warner goodbye
Raven-Symoné, who played Olivia Kendall, took to Instagram July 22 to pay homage to her former costar.
"Words cannot express the pain and sadness and surprise that I feel with the recent loss of MJW," she said in an audio recording. "He was the big brother, he was a beacon, he was one of the most multifaceted talented men, so gentle. And my heart and soul and hugs and kisses go out to his daughter and his wife and his mother."
Growing emotional, she said, "I love you and I know you're watching over all of us now. Bye, Malcolm."
Contributing: Taijuan Moorman, Bryan Alexander, Maria Puente and Brendan Morrow, Paste BN