Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Best Known as Theo in The Cosby Show, Dies at 54

Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who is champion known for playing Theodore ‘Theo’ Huxtable connected The Cosby Show, has died astatine 54.

Costa Rican National Police confirmed the quality with ABC, saying the ‘90s prima accidentally drowned disconnected the seashore of Playa Cocles formation successful Limon, Costa Rica, Sunday. His authoritative origin of decease is listed arsenic asphyxia, which helium suffered aft being caught by high-current waters. Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Department tells AP that “he was rescued by radical connected the beach,” but Red Cross archetypal responders recovered him without captious signs. He was past taken to the morgue.

Malcolm-Jamal Warner. Photo by Alberto Rodriguez/Variety via Getty Images.

Warner played Theo passim The Cosby Show’s eight-season tally from 1984 to 1992, wherever helium appeared arsenic the lad of Heathcliff ‘Cliff’ Huxtable (Bill Cosby) and Clair Huxtable (Phylicia Rashad). A pivotal subordinate of the group, Warner’s clip arsenic Theo established him arsenic an icon successful sitcom tv past and 1 of the much recognizable celebrities of the 1990s.

The Cosby Show nary uncertainty propelled Warner into the homes of TV watchers crossed America, but the prima spent plentifulness of clip making impermanent appearances and starring successful different programs, too. Audiences whitethorn person spotted him successful a fewer episodes of Will Smith’s The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air oregon adjacent recognized his dependable arsenic The Producer successful The Magic School Bus.

From Son of Anarchy and Dexter to The Community, Warner continued to find his mode to TV screens into the 2010s earlier appearing successful a much regular capableness successful shows similar Reed Between the Lines and Major Crimes. Most recently, fans would person caught him successful the Not All Hood (NAH) podcast bid oregon starring arsenic AJ Austin successful Fox and Hulu’s The Resident.

Warner’s abrupt passing has sent fans sharing memories and clips successful his grant crossed societal media. Many person been speedy to constituent to 1 circumstantial The Cosby Show show from an aboriginal occurrence titled “A Shirt Story" arsenic an all-time favourite infinitesimal from the series.

— Renee (@PettyLupone) July 21, 2025

RIP Malcolm-Jamal Warner. pic.twitter.com/42T5pd2yCh

— Ave (@SebastianAvenue) July 21, 2025

RIP to the large Malcolm Jamal Warner, my procreation grew up connected him pic.twitter.com/Yzi4j6nLDu

— Rilla🇺🇸 (@Finalbossjimmy) July 21, 2025 — Mike Beauvais (@MikeBeauvais) July 21, 2025

Photo by Alberto Rodriguez/Variety via Getty Images.

Michael Cripe is simply a freelance contributor with IGN. He's champion known for his enactment astatine sites similar The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be definite to springiness him a travel connected Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).