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Malcom-Jamal Warner
Belongs To The Ages
1970-2025
Writing obituaries are always a sad thing, but they hit particularly hard when it's somebody who was younger than yourself, and was totally healthy, which was the case with the passing of Malcolm-Jamal Warner. Malcolm was best known for his role as Theodore "Theo" Huxtable on the Cosby Show. Bill Cosby, who famously played Theo's father is renowned for a career where he wore many different Rolex watches, beginning back on the 1960s TV show, I Spy. Malcolm-Jamal, also famously wore a stainless steel Rolex Datejust on a Jubilee bracelet on The Cosby Show, with a fluted white gold bracelet as pictured below.
The world mourns the untimely passing of Malcolm-Jamal Warner, a beloved actor, musician, poet, and cultural icon, who left us on July 20, 2025, at the age of 54. Known to millions as Theodore "Theo" Huxtable on the groundbreaking NBC sitcom The Cosby Show, Warner’s life was a testament to artistry, resilience, and a commitment to uplifting Black culture. His tragic death in an accidental drowning while vacationing in Costa Rica has left a void in the hearts of fans, friends, and colleagues, but his legacy, much like the timeless craftsmanship of a Rolex, endures with grace and precision.
Born on August 18, 1970, in Jersey City, New Jersey, Malcolm-Jamal Warner was named after civil rights leader Malcolm X and jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal, a nod to the cultural and artistic influences that would shape his remarkable career. Raised by his mother, Pamela, who also served as his manager, Warner discovered his passion for performing at a young age. By nine, he was already honing his craft, eventually enrolling in The Professional Children’s School in New York City, a distinguished institution that counted him among its notable alumni.
Bill Cosby
Bill Cosby began his career as a comedian and started wearing Rolex watches back in the 1960s, and his first Rolex was a Pepsi GMT-Master, which was considered to be avant guard at the time. We see his comedy record album pictured below which was released in August of 1965, which featured live stand up comedy routines that had been recorded at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.
In 1965 Bill Cosby landed a role that would change his life, where he costarred on the TV series named I SPY, and as we see in the image below, Robert Culp was his partner on the show, and ironically, but American Spies wore Pepsi Rolex GMT-Master model watches.
Bill Cosby went on create a famous kids show named Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, hay, hay, hay, hay!!!
The Cosby Show
Bill Cosby's series, was one of the most beloved and watches shows in American history. Bill Cosby had been wearing Rolex for a long time, and had an amazing collection of Rolex "Presidential" models from the DAY-DATE family. Pictured below, we see Bill Cosby wearing his platinum DAY-DATE, back in the mid 1980s when he was on top of the world. Even though Bill Cosby also wore multiple yellow gold Rolex Day-Date models while filming his Cosby Show, he seemed to gravitate mostly to his platinum watch, which was remarkably low key and elegant.
It featured a porcelain white dial with raised white gold Roman numerals as pictured below, and his son, Theo's Rolex was designed to be like a Day-Date Jr, as it was stainless steel with a white gold bezel. This watch was arguably peak 1980s Rolex, in the era that would in many ways grow to personify and establish Rolex as the International Mark of Success.
Warner’s breakout role came in 1984 when, at just 13, he was handpicked by Bill Cosby to portray Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show. The ultra popular sitcom, which ran from 1984 to 1992, redefined television by presenting a successful, loving Black family—the Huxtables—in a way that resonated with audiences worldwide.
On the show, Bill Cosby's wife, also wore a Rolex, and so does his youngest daughter, from the show, in real life, Keshia Knight Pulliam.
As Theo, the charming yet sometimes mischievous son of Cliff and Clair Huxtable, Warner brought humor, vulnerability, and authenticity to the role, earning a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 1986. The show’s cultural impact was profound, with Warner himself noting in a 2023 interview, “There’s a generation of us who went to college, sought out higher education, and had loving relationships because of that show.”
Beyond The Cosby Show, Warner’s career was a masterclass in versatility, much like the intricate movements of a Rolex timepiece. He starred alongside Eddie Griffin in the UPN sitcom Malcolm & Eddie (1996–2000), voiced The Producer in the beloved PBS series The Magic School Bus (1994–1997), and portrayed Dr. AJ Austin in Fox’s medical drama The Resident (2018–2023). His guest appearances spanned iconic shows such as The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Suits, American Horror Story, and The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, where he played Al Cowlings. Warner also directed episodes of The Cosby Show, Kenan & Kel, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, showcasing his multifaceted talent behind the camera.
A true Renaissance man, Warner’s artistic contributions extended beyond acting. A gifted musician and poet, he won a Grammy Award in 2015 for Best Traditional R&B Performance for his spoken-word contribution to “Jesus Children” by the Robert Glasper Experiment featuring Lalah Hathaway. In 2023, he earned a Grammy nomination for his spoken-word poetry album Hiding in Plain View. His podcast, Not All Hood, co-hosted with Candace Kelley, explored the diverse experiences of Black Americans, offering a platform for nuanced discussions on identity and culture. In a 2023 interview with People, Warner described the podcast as a space where he could be “the most vulnerable,” reflecting his deep commitment to authenticity.
Warner’s personal life was marked by the same quiet strength and dignity that defined his public persona. Notoriously private, he was a devoted husband and father to a daughter born in 2017, whose names he kept out of the public eye to protect their privacy. His warmth and generosity touched those around him, as evidenced by tributes from colleagues like Tracee Ellis Ross, who starred with him in Reed Between the Lines, and Angela Bassett, who worked with him on 9-1-1. Ross wrote on Instagram, “You were my first TV husband… warm, gentle, present, kind, thoughtful, deep, funny, elegant. You made the world a brighter place.”
The circumstances of Warner’s passing are as heartbreaking as they are unexpected. On July 20, 2025, while swimming at Playa Cocles in Limón, Costa Rica, Warner was swept away by a strong ocean current. Despite efforts by bystanders and the Costa Rican Red Cross, he could not be revived. The official cause of death was asphyxia due to drowning, a tragic accident that has left the entertainment world reeling.
Warner’s life was a testament to the enduring power of art to inspire and unite. Like a Rolex, meticulously crafted to stand the test of time, his contributions to television, music, and culture remain timeless. In a 2013 interview with the Archive of American Television, he spoke of his pride in his “post-Cosby life,” saying, “I’ve had such an awesome life… I have peace of mind, and for me, you can’t put a price on that.” As we reflect on his remarkable journey, we celebrate a man whose talent, compassion, and authenticity will forever belong to the ages.
Malcolm-Jamal Warner is survived by his wife, daughter, and a legacy that will continue to inspire generations. Rest in Peace, Theo. You inspired many people with your amazing personality...
