On July 20, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who played Theo Huxtable on “The Cosby Show,” died at the age of 54. Here, he is pictured in 1985 at the age of 14, and from 2024 at the age of 53. (Photo credit: Ron Galella, Ltd. / Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images, and Santiago Felipe / Getty Images)

Actor Who Played The Only Son To TV’s Dr. Huxtable Accidentally Drowned

Back in 1984, American television audiences were introduced to an all-American family: the Huxtables.

Led by comedian Bill Cosby, who played the patriarch of the Huxtable family on The Cosby Show, it was his character’s children who often stole the show.

Among them was Theo Huxtable, played by Malcolm-Jamal Warner.

Warner died on Sunday, July 20, at the age of 54. News of his passing was not made public until Monday.

While no official cause of dearth has been released, People was told by a source that Warner accidentally drowned while on a family vacation in Costa Rica.

Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s Television and Film Legacy

The Cosby Show, which aired its final episode in 1992 on NBC, made Warner a household name in television. In 1986, his role as Theo saw him nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series.

The show saw Theo tackle both humorous and serious subjects, including dating, dyslexia, and racism.

Here’s a memorable scene from the 1984 pilot episode of The Cosby Show, in which Theo gets a lesson in budgeting for life with a girlfriend from his father:

Here’s another famous scene from The Cosby Show, in which Theo’s father confronts him about getting his ear pierced.

Following his time on The Cosby Show, he led a sitcom titled Malcolm & Eddie, on the UPN Network, and went on to star in various supporting and guest roles in film and television.

Recent roles included Fox’s The Resident and four episodes of ABC’s 9-1-1.

He is survived by his wife and child.