Yesterday, we reported that Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who was best known for playing Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show, died on Sunday in an accidental drowning. He was 54 years-old. Now, Bill Cosby has broken his silence in a rare statement to address the death of his TV son.
Cosby Breaks His Silence
“He’s devastated and it’s a sad day,” Andrew Wyatt, a spokesman for Cosby, told Complex. “As a fan of the Cosby show every young boy’s dream was to be Theo (Malcolm-Jamal Warner) and have a family like the Huxtable’s.”
“However, that dream came true when God gave me the honor and pleasure to represent Mr. Cosby,” he continued. “I got to do it for the culture just like to The Cosby Show saved many cultures.”
Wyatt later told TMZ that finding out about Warner’s death reminded Cosby of the day his son Ennis was murdered in 1997. Indeed, Warner’s character of Theo Huxtable was based on Ennis, who was Cosby’s only son. In The Cosby Show, Theo was the only son of Cosby’s character Dr. Cliff Huxtable.
Warner died on Sunday while vacationing with his family in Costa Rica. He was reportedly swimming in the ocean when he was caught by a high current.
“He was rescued by people on the beach,” Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Department told The Associated Press.
Sadly, by the time first responders from Costa Rica’s Red Cross arrived at, Warner no longer had vital signs. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Full Story: ‘Cosby Show’ Star Malcolm-Jamal Warner Found Dead At 54
Warner’s History With The Cosby Show
Warner was a former child star who was best known for playing Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show. He starred in the sitcom from 1984 until 1992. Warner was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 1986 for his work on the show. He was only 16 years-old at the time.
The Cosby Show was one of the most beloved shows of all time. Decades later, however, the show’s legacy was tarnished when Cosby, 88, was accused of sexual assault by over 50 women. He was ultimately convicted of sexual assault in 2018. Though that conviction was later overturned in 2021, Cosby has since been accused of sexual assault by five more women.
In the years since then, Cosby has remained largely out of the public eye. That’s what made his statement about Warner’s death particularly surprising.
Related: Bill Cosby Learns His Fate From Supreme Court
Warner Stood By The Cosby Show
Warner publicly distanced himself from Cosby when the sexual assault allegations came to light. When asked about Cosby in a recent interview, Warner said that he “can’t defend him or his actions at all.” However, Warner always stood by the legacy of The Cosby Show.
“I can understand why some people can’t watch the show and enjoy it because of everything that’s going on now,” Warner told The New York Post in 2021. “But I think…there’s a generation of young people who have pursued higher education or have started loving families because of the influence of that show.”
“So it’s kind of like, you can’t discount its impact on television culture and American culture,” he added.
Warner doubled down on this sentiment in a 2023 interview.
“I know I can speak for all the cast when I say The Cosby Show is something that we are all still very proud of,” Warner told People Magazine at the time. “We share a unique experience that keeps us lovingly bonded no matter how much time goes between seeing or hearing from each other.”
“Regardless of how some people may feel about the show now, I’m still proud of the legacy and having been a part of such an iconic show that had such a profound impact on — first and foremost, Black culture — but also American culture,” Warner continued.
Warner is survived by his wife and an 8 year-old daughter. Despite being in the public eye for decades, Warner was an incredibly private person who never publicized the name of his spouse and child. Please join us in saying a prayer for them, and for Warner’s other loved ones as they mourn this incredible loss.
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