“He was a star”: 9-1-1 actress Angela Bassett reacts to the heartbreaking death of co-star Malcolm-Jamal Warner

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9-1-1 actress Angela Bassett reacts to the death of Malcolm-Jamal Warner (Source: Getty)

The news of Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s demise has shocked the entertainment world. The acclaimed actor, who was a part of the industry for more than four decades, passed away on July 20, 2025, due to drowning.

Warner was known for his appearances in shows like The Cosby Show, Reed Between the Lines, and Alert: Missing Persons Unit, and many of his co-stars have expressed grief over his passing.

Actress Angela Bassett, who starred with Malcolm-Jamal Warner in the ABC procedural drama, 9-1-1, has now taken to social media to mourn the loss of her dear friend. She posted screenshots of her scenes with the late actor on Instagram and noted:

“When a special soul like @malcolmjamalwar leaves us far too soon, words fail to adequately describe the unimaginable grief. Malcolm was more than a gifted actor; he was a longtime friend. When I met him, he was a star on the show that was TV royalty, The Cosby Show. He warmly embraced me as a working actor who was trying to find my way.”

Angela Bassett pays tribute to Malcolm-Jamal Warner

In the post, Angela Bassett further talked about Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s qualities as a person, and added that she is glad for getting the opportunity to work with him on 9-1-1 last year:

“Even in his youth, Malcolm’s empathy, quiet strength, and his bright light surrounded us all. Then to have the opportunity to work with him again last year on @911onabc was a memorable, full-circle moment for us both.”

Bassett further said that Warner has left an indelible impact on her, and his contribution to the entertainment industry will always be remembered:

“In this life, Malcolm is what’s known as a soulful artist whose deep commitment to his craft left an impression on me that has never faded. He carried the weight of cultural legacy with grace, and he always made space for others to shine. His light will remain in our hearts always. My prayers are with you and yours. Rest in perfect peace until we meet again.”

Angela Bassett and Malcolm-Jamal Warner worked together in 2014 in American Horror Story: Freak Show, in which the former played the lead role of Desiree Dupree and the latter appeared as Angus T. Jefferson in three episodes.

A decade later, the two collaborated onscreen once again for 9-1-1. Bassett is a series regular on the show, playing the role of Athena Grant-Nash since 2018, while Warner played a guest character in the show for four episodes, starring as Amir Casey.

Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s other television credits include the shows The Resident, Sneaky Pete, Ten Days in the Valley, Suits, Sherri, and Listen Up. He was also seen in the movies Fool's Gold, Drop Zone, Restaurant, and Shot.


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Edited by Jashandeep Singh