Our little brother. Play cousin. First crush. First image of many of our actual lives. The boy who gave us the incredible Theo Huxtable of the iconic Cosby Show, who grew into the man who gave us AJ Austin on The Resident, Alex Reed of Reed Between the Lines, Malolm of Malcolm & Eddie, Julius Rowe of Suits, and decades of steady work on shows like Anerican Horror Story, Sons of Anarchy, Listen Up, 911, and Community,. An award-winning writer, director, poet, spoken word artist, musician, and icon, his loss Is incomprehensible and devastating.
He died while on vacation in Costa Rica with his beloved family, whom he fiercely protected from the public’s prying eye. While swimming, he was caught In a rip current, and drowned.
Malcolm Jamal Warner, 54, was one of a kind and his tragic passing, has left us heartbroken. There truly Is no other response for those who grew up watching a happy, Black boy, living his truth In a loving family, who challenged dominant media representations of African-Americans in the 1980s and early 1990s. He was, “Black boy joy,” and brought laughs to millions for eight seasons on the Cosby Show. He also brought social and civic Issues like ending apartheid in South Africa and dyslexia to mainstream American television, and not without facing resistance from television executives.
A friend to the Burton Wire – Malcolm always had time for an interview or a kind, “Hello,” or warm hug. He respected Black-owned media and treated our small but mighty company with the same respect and professionalism as major mainstream outlets, which isn’t always the case with celebrities. Malcolm Jamal Warner, was greatly loved, admired, and respected, and will be greatly missed.
Our sincerest condolences to all who loved him, especially his family. Rest in power to a righteous brother, who meant so much to so many.
