Malcolm-Jamal Warner, best known for playing Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show, died on July 20, 2025, at age 54. According to reports from Variety, AP News, and The New York Times, Warner passed away due to an accidental drowning while vacationing with his family in Costa Rica. The incident occurred at Playa Cocles in Limon province, where Warner was swimming on Sunday afternoon. Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Department reported that he was caught in a strong ocean current. Despite attempts by bystanders to save him, Red Cross responders found him without vital signs, and he was pronounced dead at the scene, with asphyxia listed as the cause of death. Eddie Griffin and Malcom Jamal-Warner in Malcom & Eddie Born on August 18, 1970, in Jersey City, New Jersey, Warner began acting as a child, landing minor roles before joining The Cosby Show at the age of 13. The NBC sitcom, which ran from 1984 to 1992, portrayed the Huxtable family and became a cultural touchstone for its positive depiction of a Black, upper-middle-class household. Warner’s role as Theo earned him an Emmy nomination in 1986 and made him a familiar face to audiences. After The Cosby Show, Warner starred in Malcolm & Eddie (1996-2000) with Eddie Griffin and later took on roles in The Resident (2018-2023) and American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson. He also directed episodes of shows like Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Sesame Street and won a Grammy in 2015 with the Robert Glasper Experiment for Best Traditional R&B Performance. In 2024, he launched the podcast “Not All Hood” with Weusi Baraka and Candace Kelley, discussing culture and his experiences in Hollywood. Warner spoke fondly of The Cosby Show’s impact, telling PEOPLE in 2023 that it inspired viewers to pursue education and shifted perceptions of Black families. However, he also addressed the complications of its legacy due to Bill Cosby’s legal issues, expressing sadness in a 2015 AP interview over how allegations against Cosby affected the show’s reputation. Malcom Jamal-Warner accepting the Grammy for Best Traditional R&B (2015) Tributes have come from peers like Eddie Griffin, who called Warner “my big little brother” on Instagram, and Jamie Foxx, who wrote, “Rest in power, my brother.” Fans on X remembered him as a key part of their childhoods, often citing Theo’s iconic moments. Warner kept his personal life private, rarely sharing details about his wife or daughter, born in 2017. In a 2023 podcast, he mentioned his wife’s encouragement to embrace his Cosby Show legacy, showing his grounded nature despite decades of fame. His death at Playa Cocles, a beach known for its beauty but also its hazardous currents, underscores life’s unpredictability. Warner leaves behind a career that spanned comedy, drama, music, and directing, with The Cosby Show remaining his most enduring mark. In a 2013 interview, he reflected on his fulfilling life, saying he’d go “with a smile” if it ended. That sentiment captures the quiet positivity he brought to his work and is how many will remember him.The post Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Theo on ‘The Cosby Show,’ Dies at 54 first appeared on Worth it or Woke.