Tracee Ellis Ross, Niecy Nash-Betts Mourn Loss Of Malcolm-Jamal Warner
By Jovonne Ledet
July 21, 2025
Hollywood stars are mourning the loss of Malcolm-Jamal Warner, an Emmy-nominated actor who rose to fame with his role on The Cosby Show.
On Sunday (July 20), Warner died of accidental drowning while in Costa Rica on a family vacation, according to reports.
Warner starred on The Cosby Show as Theodore Huxtable, a role that earned him an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in 1986. The actor continued his run in Hollywood, with credits including Malcolm & Eddie, Reed Between the Lines, The Resident, and 9-1-1.
Celebrities and co-stars from his decades-long acting career shared tributes on social media in the wake of Warner's death.
Fellow Reed Between the Lines star Tracee Ellis Ross remembered Warner as a "warm" and "thoughtful" actor and friend.
"I love you, Malcolm. 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," Ross wrote in an Instagram post.
"My God 💔 we just spoke. You were giving me my flowers for my work in @grotesqueriefx and we talked about how happy we both were in our marriages. Damn friend 🥲 You were cornerstone of The Cosby Show. We all loved Theo! Never to be forgotten. You will be missed. Rest Easy 🕊️ @malcolmjamalwar 🙏🏾," Niecy Nash-Betts said on Instagram alongside a picture of her and Warner.
Morris Chestnut, who starred in The Resident with Warner, also spoke out about the actor's death on social media.
"Heartbroken to hear about the passing of Malcolm-Jamal Warner. Working alongside him on The Resident was an honor. He brought so much depth, warmth, and wisdom to every scene and every conversation. One of the nicest in the business. Rest easy, brother. Your legacy lives on," Chestnut wrote.
"Malcolm-Jamal Warner was a talented actor, but what truly stood out was his kindness, love for the culture and standing on business. He had a gift for making everyone feel seen and loved... I wish we had more time with this incredible person. Rest in peace," Loni Love wrote on Instagram.
"This one hurts🥹…. @malcolmjamalwar was literally the brother I never had in my head growing up! I mean the entire Cosby family was all our family in the 80s, but Theo was the only son, the only brother and he was brilliant! Rest easy 🙏🏾🥹 May we all love each other a little more today," Tabitha Brown said.
See more reactions to Warner's death below.
The King Center mourns the tragic passing of our dear friend, #MalcolmJamalWarner. Malcolm was a brilliant, multi-faceted artist and an inspiring giver. We are grateful for his love for #TheKingCenter and the King legacy. And for the ways he showed his support, including as… pic.twitter.com/eiB0dM3UDi
— The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center (@TheKingCenter) July 21, 2025
#RestinPower to NAACP Image Award winning actor, Malcolm-Jamal Warner. Your talent and spirit touched many lives, and your legacy will continue to inspire.
— NAACP (@NAACP) July 21, 2025
Thank you for the memories and the impact you made in the world of entertainment pic.twitter.com/y3zOBZqR3F
Malcolm-Jamal Warner, beloved for his role as Theo on The Cosby Show, has died at age 54. From Emmy-nominated actor to Grammy-nominated poet, he gave us decades of art, truth, and talent. His voice, on screen and in verse, will be deeply missed. Rest in power. 🕊️ pic.twitter.com/dZ5XSKhHAW
— Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) July 21, 2025
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