‘The Resident’ star Malcolm-Jamal Warner reportedly passed away in Costa Rica due to tragic drowning accident

Malcolm-Jamal Warner, known for his roles on The Cosby Show and The Resident, has reportedly died at 54, according to PEOPLE. PEOPLE reports that a source close to him said Warner was on a family trip in Costa Rica when the unfortunate incident occurred.

Local police confirmed he drowned at Cocles Beach in Limon, which is known to have strong and unpredictable currents. His body was found on Sunday afternoon. No official cause of death has been revealed so far. 

From child star to seasoned actor, Malcolm-Jamal Warner built a steady career across comedy and drama

Malcolm-Jamal Warner captured the limelight quite early on in his career, initially known for his work on the world-famous The Cosby Show. He played the role of Theo Huxtable - Bill Cosby's son. His character on the show was quite popular, and with good reason. 

Malcolm-Jamal started working as an actor at a very young age, and he received a lot of appreciation for his ability on screen. This ability even put him in the running for an Emmy award, for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Show. Over the eight years The Cosby Show was on, Warner's acting developed the same way his character did, and this certainly influenced the popularity of the role he was playing. 

After his big break on The Cosby Show, Malcolm-Jamal Warner further enhanced his filmography by doing comedic as well as dramatic ones. He got a big part in the UPN show Malcolm & Eddie, playing Malcolm McGee for four seasons alongside Eddie Griffin, who also had a main role.

Warner made his return to comedy TV with Reed Between the Lines on BET, where he was a key player from 2011 to 2015. Later, he took on a repeat role as Sticky in the gritty FX drama Sons of Anarchy. Most recently, from 2018 to 2023, he played the role of Dr. AJ Austin on Fox's The Resident, further emphasising how much he had developed as an artist over the years.