‘The Cosby Show’ star Malcolm-Jamal Warner's cause of death confirmed after tragic Costa Rica drowning
SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA: Malcolm-Jamal Warner, the beloved actor best known for his role as Theo Huxtable on 'The Cosby Show,' has died at age 54 from accidental drowning, Costa Rican authorities confirmed on Tuesday, July 22.
The country’s Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) stated that Warner’s official cause of death was “asphyxia due to submersion,” and ruled the death accidental following a completed autopsy.
Warner drowned on Sunday, July 20, after being caught in a strong current off the coast of Cocles, a beach in Costa Rica’s Limon province.
Malcolm-Jamal Warner pulled under by strong current while swimming off Caribbean coast
Malcolm-Jamal Warner had reportedly been swimming near Cocles, a scenic but hazardous shoreline on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica.
According to Costa Rica’s National Police, the actor was overtaken by a strong current and submerged. He was discovered and pulled from the water by emergency responders but could not be revived.
Witnesses say Warner had been enjoying a quiet day near the beach before entering the water. The region is known for powerful rip currents, and lifeguards have regularly warned swimmers to exercise caution.
No foul play is suspected, and officials have closed the area for further safety assessments.
Bystander who attempted rescue remains hospitalized in critical condition
Authorities also confirmed that a local man attempted to save Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s life after spotting him in distress.
The man, identified as a 32-year-old Costa Rican resident, jumped into the sea to try and reach the actor. He managed to grab Warner briefly, but both were pulled under by the current before lifeguards could intervene.
While Warner was pronounced dead shortly after being brought ashore, the man remains in critical condition at a nearby hospital. Doctors report he suffered water inhalation and blunt-force trauma from the surf.
'Cosby Show' star Malcolm-Jamal Warner remembered for groundbreaking role and Grammy-winning career
Born in Jersey City, New Jersey, in August 1970, Malcolm-Jamal Warner was cast at just 14 as Theo Huxtable, the son of Bill Cosby’s character on NBC’s 'The Cosby Show.' The sitcom ran from 1984 to 1992 and became one of the most-watched series of its time. Warner earned an Emmy nomination in 1986 for his performance on the show.
His career spanned decades and genres, with notable roles in 'Malcolm & Eddie,' 'The People v OJ Simpson: American Crime Story,' and 'The Resident Warner' also had a flourishing career as a musician and spoken-word poet, winning a Grammy in 2015 and earning another nomination in 2022.
Warner is survived by his wife and daughter. His family has not yet issued a public statement.
