THE Cosby Show actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner opened up about Bill Cosby’s impact on his life just months before his tragic death.
The 54-year-old star reckoned with the shaky legacy of the beloved sitcom in his final TV interview.
Malcolm-Jamal Warner spoke about Bill Cosby’s legacy in his final TV interview[/caption]
Warner played Theodore ‘Theo’ Huxtable alongside Cosby from 1984 to 1992[/caption]
Reruns of the show were taken off some networks after dozens of women fired off sexual assault allegations against Cosby[/caption]
On Sunday, Warner was caught in a riptide while swimming in Costa Rica on vacation, the Costa Rican National Police confirmed to several outlets.
Brave bystanders at the beach in Limon rushed into the ocean and pulled the actor to shore, but Costa Rica’s Red Cross said that he didn’t have any vital signs.
After first responders arrived, they took Warner to the morgue, the Associated Press reported.
Three months before his sudden death, Warner sat down with talk show host Sherri Shepherd for her Fox daytime program and spoke about the legacy of the show that launched his career.
Warner played Theodore Huxtable, the only son of main character Cliff Huxtable, on the NBC sitcom throughout its entire run from 1984 to 1992.
While the show was airing, it amassed worldwide fame, resulting in Cosby’s character being lovingly named “America’s Dad.”
However, years later in 2014, a dark cloud descended on the series when multiple women came forward against Cosby with allegations of sexual assault.
Over 60 women have accused the actor and comedian of a variety of sick sex crimes, including rape, drug-facilitated sexual assault, and sexual harassment.
In 2018, Cosby was convicted on charges of drugging and sexually assaulting a woman in 2004, but that decision was overturned in 2021, resulting in his being released from prison.
Despite the twists and turns of Cosby’s career, Warner always spoke positively of the show and said that the comedian helped to make the sitcom timeless.
Warner told Sherri that he realized some of Cosby’s genius when he rewatched the show recently with his own daughter.
The actor said that he remembers filming when he was a teenager and wanting to use the slang of the 80s and 90s.
However, Cosby encouraged Warner and the writers to make up their own comical slang so the show wouldn’t feel dated decades later.
“So I watch with my daughter, and I go, ‘This show is still relevant,’” Warner told the host as the audience applauded.
In a 2023 interview with People, Warner said, “I can speak for all the cast when I say The Cosby Show is something that we are all still very proud of.
“We share a unique experience that keeps us lovingly bonded no matter how much time goes between seeing or hearing from each other.”
Warner said he was proud of The Cosby Show despite the creator’s controversies[/caption]
The actor praised Cosby, seen in 2011, for making sure the show was timeless[/caption]
FINAL PROMISE
When Warner wasn’t starring on silver screens, he could oftentimes be found making videos for his hundreds of thousands of online fans where he shared words of encouragement.
In May, he posted a clip of himself driving around on Instagram and said that he wanted to “spread some love” and remind his followers that “no matter what’s going on, there’s always a reason to smile.”
“I guarantee you can find at least one reason to smile,” said the actor.
He went on to make a now-haunting promise to his fans at the end of the positive clip.
“I’ll be back soon,” he told his followers.
Warner seen at a red carpet event in 2009[/caption]
SUCCESSFUL CAREER
Warner easily transitioned from child star to serious actor after booking impressive roles in TV and film throughout his illustrious career.
The pro performer starred in several famous shows like Suits, American Crime Story, American Horror Story, and The Resident.
He was also an award-winning recording artist, earning a Grammy for Best Traditional R&B Performance for the song Jesus Children in 2015.
Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s life
Warner began his stardom on “The Cosby Show” as character Theodore Huxtable, earning him an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.
He then went on to play Malcolm McGee in the sitcom Malcolm & Eddie, and starred in shows like Reed Between the Lines, Sons of Anarchy, American Horror Story: Freak Show, and Suits.
Warner was also a voice actor in The Magic School Bus, an iconic children’s television show that aired in the 90s.
Alongside acting, Warner was a poet and a bass player, earning his first Grammy in 2015 for “Best Traditional R&B Performance as a Featured Performer.”
Most recently, he hosted the podcast Not All Hood, which “takes a provocative look at the vastly different lived experiences and identities of Blacks in America,” according to its website.
Last year, he launched the podcast Not All Hood, which was focused on sharing “all lanes of the Black community,” he told the Today show.
“This is a place where we can have civil discourse and respectful challenges,” he said in June 2024.
Warner is survived by his wife and daughter, whose identities he kept anonymous to avoid unwanted publicity.
The Cosby Show cast is seen in 1989[/caption]
