“Working with him on The Resident was an honor”: Morris Chestnut and fellow stars mourn Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s death

Malcolm-Jamal Warner tragically drowned in Costa Rica on Sunday, July 20, 2025, and Hollywood is mourning the 54-year-old’s untimely demise. Warner, known for his role as Theo Huxtable on the American television sitcom The Cosby Show, was reportedly swept away by a current on a beach in Limon and was found later in the afternoon.

Costa Rican police identified Malcom-Jamal Warner, with his cause of death placed as asphyxia. The Primetime Emmy award nominee recently started in the Fox medical series, The Resident, and co-star Morris Chestnut posted an emotional tribute on Instagram with a photo carousel of him and Warner in The Resident.

Chestnut expressed in his post that he was “heartbroken” about Warner’s death, adding that it was an honor working alongside the late actor:

"Heartbroken to hear about the passing of Malcolm-Jamal Warner. Working alongside him on The Resident was an honor."

He added:

"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."

Tributes have continued to pour in for Malcolm-Jamal Warner

Tracee Ellis Ross, who worked with Malcolm-Jamal Warner on the BET sitcom Reed Between the Lines, reflected on the late actor’s character, describing him as “warm” and “gentle.” She wrote on Instagram:

"My heart is so, so sad. What an actor and friend you were: warm, gentle, present, kind, thoughtful, deep, funny, elegant."

Jennifer Love Hewitt starred alongside Warner on the 9-1-1 series in 2024. She expressed that the 9-1-1 family was lucky to have worked with Warner.

"This hurts my heart," the actress said. "A gentleman, an incredible talent and we were so lucky to have him in the '9-1-1' family. Heartbroken and sending love to his family."

Ashley Jones, another co-star of Warner’s from The Resident, shared a photo of herself and Warner with the caption:

"Malcolm. & It was only about an 8 day stretch I got to hang and work with you on set. I was a big fan, but you were a friend," she wrote in the caption. "You were the real deal. Talked about your wife and daughter, your music, your poetry. We talked about my son and some hard life stuff I was going through... You were inspiring. Encouraged me to keep directing. Keep challenging myself."

She added that the actor’s legacy will live on and extended her condolences to his family.

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Other actors who have paid tributes to Malcolm-Jamal Warner include Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Hudson, Taraji P. Henson and Viola Davis. Warner is survived by his wife, daughter, mother Pamela Warner, and father Robert Warner Jr.

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