Why did Malcolm-Jamal Warner's death remind Bill Cosby of his murdered son? Rep shares statement

On July 20, 2025, Malcolm-Jamal Warner — best known for his iconic role as Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show — tragically passed away in a drowning accident while on an extended family vacation in Costa Rica. He was caught in a powerful current off Cocles Beach in the Limon province and could not be rescued in time.

The news sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry and deeply affected his former on-screen father, Bill Cosby. The depth of Cosby's grief became evident through a statement released by his longtime spokesperson, Andrew Wyatt.

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Bill Cosby said the news felt like a painful déjà vu in the studio

According to Wyatt, when Cosby first learned of Warner’s drowning, TV dad

“It reminded him of being in the studio filming The Cosby Show in January 1997, when he got a call informing him that his son Ennis Cosby was shot dead in a failed robbery attempt”.

In both moments, Cosby was hard at work on set when grief arrived by telephone. That parallel between sudden calls of tragedy underlines why Warner’s death reopened a wound that had never fully closed.

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Cosby and Malcolm-Jamal Warner shared a close bond long after the cameras stopped rolling

Cosby and Warner shared a close bond long after the cameras stopped rolling. While Malcolm‑Jamal Warner played Theo, Cosby's fictional son on The Cosby Show, their connection continued long after the final episode aired. Cosby often spoke warmly about Warner, noting how dedicated and disciplined he was even as a young actor.

“He was always a great studier, and I enjoyed working with him very much,”

Cosby said in a recent statement.

“He always knew his part. … He always knew his lines, and he always knew where to go.”

Cosby’s relationship with Warner wasn’t just professional; it was paternal. In a past interview with ABC, he had shared,

“Malcolm calls here regularly. While I was their TV dad, I never stopped being a father to them.”

According to his spokesperson, Andrew Wyatt, Warner had reached out not long before his death, following a performance in Minneapolis. These conversations, often personal and reflective, had become a regular part of Cosby’s life. For Cosby, Warner remained a trusted and familiar presence, much like family, which is why the loss feels especially close to home.

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Memories of Ennis and Malcolm-Jamal Warner playing together remain vivid for Cosby

Cosby frequently said that Ennis and Warner met as children on the set of the show and were great together, and formed a real friendship that was similar to the one they portrayed on screen. The fact that they were laughing and playing confirmed to Wyatt that Malcolm-Jamal Warner had been adopted as a family member by Cosby in his eyes.

The resemblance of such childhood friendship in making the news of Warner's untimely passing seem like the very same kind of devastation Cosby felt when Ennis was ripped away from him was also in the eerie light.

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Bill Cosby found solace in talking with fellow Cosby Show cast members

In the wake of Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s passing, Cosby reached out to longtime co‑star Phylicia Rashad. Wyatt shared that they spent hours reminiscing about Warner’s kindness and humor on set.

Those conversations helped Cosby navigate waves of grief, reminding him that the support network formed during the show’s heyday still stands strong. Even years later, the cast remains a source of comfort in moments of loss.

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Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s achievements resonated deeply with Cosby and fans

In addition to his character as Theo, Malcolm-Jamal Warner developed a multifaceted career playing music and directing, as well as a verse speaker of words. He received an Emmy nomination at an early age and a Grammy in 2015 for a spoken‑word piece.

Wyatt related how Cosby was impressed with the growth of Warner: he knew Warner would grow.

“made a lasting impact through his life and work that will continue to change the world”.

That sense of legacy, both on‑ and off‑screen, made Warner’s death all the more poignant.

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Cosby’s reflections underscore both loss and enduring love

Reflecting on 1997, Cosby once described Ennis as “my hero” when recounting his son’s life and aspirations. Now, in mourning Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Cosby again faces the ache of losing someone he deeply cared for.

Yet even in grief, his words and memories honor those bonds, whether biological or forged under studio light, and remind us that love can outlast tragedy.