Bill Cosby is mourning the loss of his former co-star Malcolm-Jamal Warner.

On Sunday (July 20), Warner, 54, died of accidental drowning while swimming in the ocean during a vacation in Costa Rica.

“Regarding the preliminary investigation, the victim appears to have entered the sea and was apparently swept away by a current,” Costa Rica officials said in a statement. “The man was rescued by bystanders and taken to shore, where he received treatment from the Costa Rican Red Cross. However, he was declared lifeless at the scene.”

Andrew Wyatt, a rep for Cosby, said the 88-year-old was devastated to learn about the death of Warner, who portrayed his son, Theodore Huxtable, on The Cosby Show, per E! News.

Cosby recalled his late son, Ennis Cosby, who was murdered in 1997, and Warner playing together when they were children, saying they "were amazing together," per the rep. The actor, who served nearly three years in prison for aggravated indecent assault before his convictions were overturned, said he believes Warner's legacy will live on.

"You could depend on Malcolm always going to the shelter, to learn his lines, to gather his character to come out and be ready,” Cosby told 6ABC. “When the news came, it was shocking.”

“Of course, my thoughts went straight to his mother, who worked so hard. She was so wonderful with him," he added.

Warner's role on The Cosby Show earned him an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in 1986. The actor also starred in Malcolm & Eddie, Reed Between the Lines, The Resident, and 9-1-1.

Fellow Reed Between the Lines star Tracee Ellis Ross remembered Warner as a "warm" and "thoughtful" actor and friend.

"I love you, Malcolm. First I met you as Theo with the rest of the world then you were my first TV husband. My heart is so so sad. What an actor and friend you were: warm, gentle, present, kind, thoughtful, deep, funny, elegant. You made the world a brighter place. Sending so much love to your family. I’m so sorry for this unimaginable loss," Ross wrote in an Instagram post.

The Black Information Network is your source for Black News! Get the latest news 24/7 on The Black Information Network. Listen now on the iHeartRadio app or click HERE to tune in live.

Calendar Events