Following the news that Malcolm-Jamal Warner passed away, Bill Cosby emotionally reacted to his co-star’s shocking death.
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The disgraced actor’s rep, Andrew Wyatt, confirmed to E! News that news about Warner’s passing devastated him. It reminded Cosby of his son Ennis’ 1997 murder.
Wyatt stated that Cosby spoke of Ennis and Malcolm-Jamal playing together as children. He said they “were amazing together.” Wyatt pointed out that Cosby believes Warner created a “lasting impact” through his life and work, which he believes will continue to change the world.
Bill Cosby also personally reflected on Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s time on The Cosby Show.
“You could depend on Malcolm always going to the shelter, to learn his lines, to gather his character to come out and be ready,” he said to 6 Action News. “When the news came, it was shocking. And of course, my thoughts went straight to his mother, who worked so hard. She was so wonderful with him.”
“He was always a great studier, and I enjoyed working with him very much,” Cosby then shared. “He always knew his part.”
Cosby added, “He always knew his lines, and he always knew where to go.”
Malcolm-Jamal Warner Passed Away While Vacationing in Costa Rica
Warner passed away over the weekend near Cocles, a beach in Limon, Costa Rica. Law enforcement confirmed that he had been caught by a high current and drowned. His body was recovered on Sunday.
Warner was known for his role as Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show. He also starred with Eddie Griffin in Malcolm & Eddie. He recently starred in Fox’s The Resident for five seasons.
Warner also had a successful music career. He earned a Grammy Award in 2015 for Best Traditional R&B Performance alongside Robert Glasper Experiment and Lalah Hathaway for their cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Jesus Children of America.”
Warner was vocal about Cosby’s assault crimes. During a 2015 interview with Billboard, he stated, “He’s one of my mentors, and he’s been very influential and played a big role in my life as a friend and mentor. Just as it’s painful to hear any woman talk about sexual assault, whether true or not, it’s just as painful to watch my friend and mentor go through this.”
“I can’t really speak on any of the allegations because obviously, I was not there,” he continued. “The Bill Cosby I know has been great to me and great for a lot of people…What he’s done for comedy and television has been legendary and history-making. What he’s done for the black community and education has been invaluable. That’s the Bill Cosby I know. I can’t speak on the other stuff.”
Warner acknowledged the impact of Cosby’s actions on The Cosby Show‘s legacy in a 2023 interview. “Regardless of how some people may feel about the show now, I’m still proud of the legacy and having been a part of such an iconic show that had such a profound impact on — first and foremost, Black culture — but also American culture.”