How did Beyoncé honor late "Cosby Show" actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner?

Beyoncé dedicated a section on her website for Malcolm-Jamal Warner. She honored the late Cosby Show star by putting up a black-and-white photo of Warner from his childhood/teenage years. Below the photo, Beyoncé wrote:

"Rest in power, Malcolm-Jamal Warner. Thanks for being a big part of our shared television history. You will be missed."

Malcolm-Jamal Warner passed away on July 20, 2025, in Costa Rica. According to reports and legal authorities, the 54-year-old actor was swimming at Playa Cocles in Limón Province when he was caught in a strong current and drowned. By the time bystanders had the chance to pull him from under the water, he had already passed. Warner’s cause of death has been confirmed as asphyxiation by submersion due to drowning.

Celebrities besides Beyoncé who mourned the passing of Malcolm-Jamal Warner

Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s passing was sudden and prompted an outpouring of tributes from colleagues and friends. Besides Beyoncé, many other prominent individuals took to their social media to pay tribute to the Cosby Show actor.

Former professional basketball player Earvin “Magic” Johnson Jr. wrote on X:

"Cookie and I are sad to hear about the passing of our dear friend Malcolm-Jamal Warner. We were both super fans of the hit Cosby Show and continued to follow his career on shows like Malcolm and Eddie and The Resident. Every time I ran into Malcolm, we would have deep and fun conversations about basketball, life, and business. He will truly be missed."

He concluded:

"Cookie and I are praying his family and close friends during this difficult time."

black-ish actress Tracee Ellis Ross also took to Instagram to express her grief. She called Jamal Warner her first TV husband and posted a few old snapshots of them together. She captioned her post:

"I love you, Malcolm. First I met you as Theo with the rest of the world then you were my first TV husband. My heart is so so sad. What an actor and friend you were: warm, gentle, present, kind, thoughtful, deep, funny, elegant. You made the world a brighter place. Sending so much love to your family. I'm so sorry for this unimaginable loss."

American actress and singer Holly Robinson Peete also wrote a lengthy post on Instagram, along with a photo of herself and Malcolm-Jamal Warner. She said:

"We first met in the ’80s on the set of The Cosby Show, where my dad was a writer/producer and remained friends throughout the years. He was always gracious, kind, funny and gave the absolute best hugs. But-Even if you never met him- you feel like you knew him. That’s how universally loved he was I am sending my deepest condolences to his mom, Pamela and his family."

She continued:

"We aren’t ready to say goodbye, Malcolm —but you lived with purpose, character, presence, and grace. Rest well, my friend. Your light lives on…"

Trending

Beyoncé has previously honored victims of racial or LGBTQ+ violence, including O’Shae Sibley, a gay man who was stabbed in Brooklyn, New York, shortly before his death.

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback