Acclaimed actor Malcolm‑Jamal Warner, best known for playing Theo Huxtable on the iconic 1980s sitcom The Cosby Show, tragically lost his life at age 54 after drowning off the coast of Costa Rica on Sunday.
The Costa Rican Judicial Investigation Department confirmed that Warner was swimming at Playa Cocles in Limón province when he was caught in a powerful rip current . Bystanders and Costa Rican Red Cross teams rushed to his aid, but he was pronounced dead at the scene from asphyxiation by submersion . A second man involved in the incident remains in critical condition .
Warner rose to fame as the only son in the Huxtable family, starring on The Cosby Show from 1984 to 1992 and earning an Emmy nomination in 1986 . His career spanned decades with notable roles in Malcolm & Eddie, The Resident, American Crime Story, and Suits. As a musician and poet, he won a Grammy in 2015 for Best Traditional R&B Performance , and recently hosted the podcast Not All Hood .
Tributes have poured in worldwide. Bill Cosby, his on-screen father, compared the loss to that of his own son, calling the news devastating . Actor Morris Chestnut reminisced about his warm spirit and professionalism .
The tragedy has sparked calls for improved beach safety in Costa Rica. Authorities noted that lifeguards were absent at the time—a gap critics believe may have contributed to the death .
Warner is survived by his wife and daughter, who he always kept out of the public eye .
