Who are Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s parents? Late child actor’s mom reportedly pushed her son for success

Malcolm-Jamal Warner, the child actor who gained recognition as Theodore Huxtable on The Cosby Show, has passed away.

According to a report in CNN, the 54-year-old drowned on Sunday, July 20, when he was dragged by a swift ocean current while swimming at Playa Grande, a beach in Costa Rica. He was on a family vacation. He is survived by his wife, daughter, and mother.

Warner was loved for his character of Theo on The Cosby Show, which aired from 1984 to 1992. He aimed to live his life to the fullest and was a devoted family man.

Public interest in Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s family has risen following his sudden death, primarily his mother, Pamela Warner, who played a vital role in encouraging her son to achieve his career goals. She was his manager and mentor. His father was Robert Warner Jr. Not much is known about him except that he got divorced from Malcolm’s mother when the actor was just 6 years old.

Here is what we know.

All about Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s relationship with his mom

Malcolm-Jamal Warner shared a close bond with his mother, Pamela Warner. His mother raised him in California after her divorce from her husband, Robert Warner Jr. As a producer and manager of her son, Pamela guided him, counselling him to take wise decisions when it came to his career.

According to CNN, Malcolm-Jamal Warner developed a passion for acting at the age of nine. He attended the Professional Children’s School in New York City. After his breakthrough role in The Cosby Show at the age of 14, Malcolm-Jamal Warner starred in series such as Malcolm & Eddie and The Resident.

In an interview with People magazine, he shared how his mother remained a strong supporter of him during his career. He said:

“I was 14 years old, and my mother sat me down and said, ‘Listen baby, it's great that this show is the phenomenon that it is, but at some point this show is going to be over.’ ‘This show could be over next year. What are you going to do when this show is over?’ She said, ‘I can type. I can always get a job, but what are you going to do when the show's over?’”

Malcolm followed his mother’s advice in followed other ventures. For instance, in 2015, he won a Grammy for Best Spoken Word Poetry Album at the 65th Annual Grammys. He is also a part of a junk funk band called Biological Misfits. Last year, he started a podcast, Not All Hood, alongside co-hosts Weusi Baraka and Candace Kelley.

Recalling his parents’ divorce in an interview with the Hot & Bothered podcast in June 2025, he said:

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“My parents were separated when I was three. They got divorced when I was six. My father has been remarried for 47 years, and my mother and father are like brother and sister. My whole life, they’ve had this close relationship and coparented very well.”

He added that he recently spoke to his father, who told him that he was proud of him. He also told him that people love you and talk about your career all the time, but what makes him proud is that he is a good person.

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