What did Malcolm-Jamal Warner say in his final interview? The Cosby Show alum reflected on his legacy before his untimely death

Actor and musician Malcolm-Jamal Warner died on July 20 at age 54 after an accidental drowning in Costa Rica. The actor, known for his role on The Cosby Show, appeared on the Hot & Bothered podcast with Melyssa Ford on May 21.

During their conversation, Warner and Ford discussed the gift of life while talking about Mitch Albom’s Tuesdays with Morrie. She asked the actor about the legacy he hopes to leave behind. Malcolm-Jamal Warner said:

“I remember my mother said to me one time that Mr. Cosby gave you immortality. So, I know on one lane there is legacy there but also because my life, those former years were always about life beyond Cosby.”

He went on:

“I feel like, okay, there is that legacy there but then because I have had this full life you know, after that show, there is another lane of legacy that I get to leave and I am still working through that.”

Melyssa Ford chimed in, mentioning that it was not an easy question for her to answer. She explained that being in her 40s felt like an existential crisis. Malcolm-Jamal Warner said he finds comfort in knowing he can leave this world with people remembering him as a good person.

He mentioned that he had spoken to his father the day before, and his dad often told him that while people admired his career and success, he saw his son as a generous and good person. Malcolm explained that he became a good person because his father was a good person too.

Malcolm-Jamal Warner shared his idea about poetry

Malcolm-Jamal Warner said it was possible to live in a world full of darkness but still keep one’s soul pure and remain a good person. Ford then asked what music allowed him to express that acting could not. He explained that his poetry often addressed social issues that didn’t always come up in acting or directing because, in those roles, he was interpreting someone else’s words.

With music and poetry, he said he could write from his own heart without anyone telling him what his voice should be. He said making independent music gave him freedom, honesty, and a chance to express himself truly. The actor added:

“I've created a really great niche for myself and a great balance between really good poetry and really good music because my thing is I want the music to be good enough for people to come back and listen to the poetry again.”

Malcolm-Jamal Warner added:

“But people aren't used to listening to poetry so I try to infuse like you know this jazz funk has got a hip-hop edge, but I know as an artist, you have to accept that sometimes when you're about the art, you're not going to hit mainstream.”

Malcolm-Jamal Warner said he didn’t depend on his art to pay his bills, but it made him feel genuinely happy and fulfilled. He appreciated that some people understood and connected with his work. For him, having that kind of creative freedom was the best feeling in the world.

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Also read: What did Malcolm-Jamal Warner say about his wife?

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