An outpouring of grief swept across the country on Monday afternoon after news broke that actor and director Malcolm-Jamal Warner — beloved for his role as teenager Theo Huxtable on the groundbreaking sitcom “The Cosby Show” — accidentally drowned on Sunday. He was 54.
Costa Rican authorities say the writer, director, podcaster, and Grammy-winning musician was enjoying a beach vacation with his family on the Caribbean coast. He reportedly drowned when a strong current pulled him deeper into the ocean.
While exact details of Warner’s death are still unclear, his untimely death is also a tragic reminder that Black Americans drown at disproportionately high rates, due to a variety of factors.
Stars are “Heartbroken”
As news of Warner’s death rocketed around social media, tributes from his fans and peers poured in.
Actor Tracee Ellis Ross — who portrayed Warner’s wife in “Reed Between the Lines,” a BET sitcom — wrote that her “heart is so, so sad” about her former co-star’s death.
“First I met you as Theo with the rest of the world then you were my first TV husband,” she wrote on Instagram. “What an actor and friend you were: warm, gentle, present, kind, thoughtful, deep, funny, elegant. You made the world a brighter place.”
NBA legend Magic Johnson recalled the “deep and fun conversations about basketball, life and business” he had whenever he and Warner connected, and singer Jennifer Hudson said she is “truly heartbroken” by the tragedy.
Actor Morris Chestnut said he was “heartbroken” to hear about Warner’s passing.
“Working alongside him on The Resident was an honor,” Chestnut wrote. “He brought so much depth, warmth, and wisdom to every scene and every conversation. One of the nicest in the business. Rest easy, brother. Your legacy lives on.”
Died on Vacation
ABC News reported that Warner died near Cocles, a beach in Limon, Costa Rica. Police said he was caught by a rip current in the water and was discovered Sunday afternoon, according to ABC; the official cause of death was asphyxia.
Born Aug. 18, 1970, and named after Malcolm X and jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal, Warner attended and graduated from The Professional Children’s School in New York City. His breakthrough role came when, in 1985, he was cast as Theo Huxtable — a role he played for all eight seasons of “The Cosby Show” and for which he received an Emmy nomination.
After “The Cosby Show” wrapped in 1992, Malcolm-Jamal Warner evolved from a teenage actor playing Black America’s kid brother on a groundbreaking sitcom to writing, directing, and starring in a range of TV projects. He co-starred with comedian Eddie Griffin in the sitcom “Malcolm and Eddie,” with Ross on “Between the Lines,” and guest-starred on TV shows from “Suits” to “9-1-1.” He branched out into podcasts and music and won a Grammy award.
His work on the AIDS awareness video “Timeout: The Truth about HIV, AIDS, and You,” which starred Magic Johnson and Arsenio Hall, earned him the NAACP Key of Life Image Award. But Theo Huxtable was his signature role.
“That show had such an impact on the culture here in America, but also a global impact on how Black people saw ourselves globally and how the rest of the world saw us,” he said during a 2023 interview with CBS News. “So, I’m proud to have been part of that legacy, and it’s been a great ride ever since.”
Keeping an Eye Out
The American Red Cross points out that people who are considered good swimmers can be caught off guard when swimming in a pool — and even more so when swimming in open water. Many people who think they are water-ready find out the hard way that they aren’t. The organization has a tipsheet that provides a reality check on what it means to be water competent.
Roughly 4,500 people die from unintentional drowning each year in the United States. In 2022, the number of drowning deaths increased significantly and was enough to reverse decades of progress. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that, for Black people, rates of drowning fatalities were 28% higher in 2021 than in 2019, according to a 2024 CDC Vital Signs study.
While some 40 million U.S. adults can’t swim, studies show only around 4 in 10 Black Americans have taken swimming lessons. More than a third of Black adults say they don’t know how to swim, compared to 15% of all adults.
From the Jump
Before thinking of heading to the pool or beach, experts recommend learning basic swimming and water safety skills. Children who have had swimming lessons still need close and constant supervision when they are in or near water.
They also recommend everyone wear a life jacket while boating, regardless of age and swimming ability. Adults should not drink alcohol before or during an outing to the pool or on a boat, and should avoid cellphone use while swimming or supervising children in or around the water. E
Experts strongly recommend that everyone learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), a first aid procedure. Administered in an emergency, it could save someone’s life in the time it takes paramedics to arrive.
Beach or Ocean Swimming
Safety and water competency in the ocean requires different skills than in a pool. Whenever you are at the beach, ocean, or other open water environment, experts recommend staying alert and preparing for changes in the tide, fast-moving currents, and waves, even in shallow water.
Swimmers also should watch out for unexpected changes in water depth, hazards such as rocks and debris above and below the surface, and marine life — including plants and creatures like spiny urchins.
Ocean swimmers, experts say, should maintain awareness of their surroundings, including other people’s activities and boating. If storms appear, including thunder and lightning, swimmers should leave the water immediately.
