The entertainment world is mourning the unexpected loss of Malcolm-Jamal Warner, and tributes continue to pour in for the beloved actor and musician. Ice Cube is among those reflecting on Warner’s powerful legacy.
In case you missed it, while speaking with TMZ at LAX on Monday, July 21, the hip hop legend took a moment to recognize Warner’s impact on television and beyond. “I look at him as an actor who brought a realness to television playing a great character, playing a great son on The Cosby Show,” Cube said. “He did a few great things outside of The Cosby Show. It’s tragic.”
Best known for his breakout role as Theo Huxtable on the iconic sitcom The Cosby Show, Warner went on to build a respected career in both acting and music. He was a Grammy-winning spoken word artist, known for his introspective poetry and jazz-infused performances.
Across the industry, fellow stars have been honoring Warner’s memory. Beyoncé paid tribute with a heartfelt message on her website, writing, “Rest in power, Malcolm-Jamal Warner. Thanks for being a big part of our shared television history. You will be missed.”
Bill Cosby, who starred opposite Warner for years, spoke with ABC News and compared the loss to one of his own most profound tragedies. “He was always a great studier, and I enjoyed working with him very much,” Cosby shared, also saying the news reminded him of the death of his own son Ennis.
Tracee Ellis Ross, who starred alongside Warner in BET’s Reed Between the Lines, shared her sorrow with a touching message on the Gram. “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 deeply saddened. What an actor and friend you were: warm, gentle, present, kind, thoughtful, deep, funny, elegant,” Ross wrote. “You made the world a brighter place. Sending so much love to your family. I’m so sorry for this unimaginable loss.”
Warner’s passing was confirmed to be the result of asphyxia after he was caught in a rip current on Sunday near Cocles beach in Limon, Costa Rica.
Rest in power.