Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Beloved Star of The Cosby Show, Passes Away at 54

Story by Mitchell Smith

Malcom-Jamal Warner best known as Theo Huxtable on “The Cosby Show”, has sadly passed away at the age of 54. Warner who was born in 1970 in New Jersey started acting at age 9. After several small rolls he auditioned for Theo Huxtable on the final day of auditions and landed the part. The show was super popular during its entire run from 1984 to 1992. Warner won best young supporting actor and best young actor awards on The Cosby Show. Although Warner had success after The Cosby Show this was his top roll and was hard to shake the Theo image.

Warner did turn to directing during The Cosby Show and had a hand in various episodes on popular shows such as “All That”, “Kenan & Kel”, “Malcolm & Eddie”, and “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”. Warner was on vacation in Costa Rico when he got caught in the current and drowned. Growing up the Cosby’s were a household name. There was no surfing channels, this was a weekly ritual to tune in. In a sense, we back in the eighties grew up with Theo, Sondra, Denise, and Mr Huxtable taught us so many life lessons. They were a wholesome family, that didn’t go without having issues that we all were living at the time. The Huxtable’s always had a solution to fix what had gone wrong.

Warner was a huge part of the shows connection to the viewers tuning in. Warner will be remembered for all of his great work over the decades, but for me I will always think of him as a big brother that taught me so many lessons. Rest in peace Mr Warner (Theo), you truly will be missed.