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Malcolm-Jamal Warner

Malcolm-Jamal Warner

Born: 1970-08-18 • Jersey City, New Jersey, USA

Malcolm-Jamal Warner (August 18, 1970 – July 20, 2025) was an American actor, musician, and poet. He rose to prominence for his role as Theodore "Theo" Huxtable on the NBC sitcom The Cosby Show (1984–1992), which earned him a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series at the 38th Primetime Emmy Awards.

His other starring television roles include Malcolm McGee in the UPN sitcom Malcolm & Eddie (1996–2000), Kurdy Malloy in Jeremiah (2002–2004), Dr. Alex Reed in the sitcom Reed Between the Lines (2011–2015), and Dr. AJ Austin in the Fox medical drama The Resident (2018–2023). Warner also had recurring roles in many shows including The Magic School Bus (1994–1997), Community (2011–2012), Major Crimes (2013–2016), Sons of Anarchy (2014), American Horror Story (2014–2015), Suits (2016–2017), Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce (2017–2018), Sneaky Pete (2017–2019), and 9-1-1 (2024). He occasionally acted in films such as Drop Zone (1994), Restaurant (1998), and Fool's Gold (2008).

Outside of acting, Warner was a vocalist and bass guitarist. He won the 2015 Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance for his contribution to a cover of Stevie Wonder's "Jesus Children of America" and was nominated for Best Spoken Word Poetry Album in 2022.

Warner died in a drowning accident in July 2025, aged 54.

Filmography
Shot poster
Shot
2017 • EMT Jones
Megachurch Murder poster
Megachurch Murder
2015 • Hamilton Spears
King of the Underground poster
King of the Underground
2011 • Malcom
2Everything2Terrible2: Tokyo Drift poster
2Everything2Terrible2: Tokyo Drift
2010 • (archive footage)
Fool's Gold poster
Fool's Gold
2008 • Cordell
The List poster
The List
2007 • Randy
My Nappy Roots: A Journey Through Black Hair-itage poster
My Nappy Roots: A Journey Through Black Hair-itage
2006 • Self
Genius. A Night for Ray Charles poster
Genius. A Night for Ray Charles
2004 • Self
The Cosby Show: A Look Back poster
The Cosby Show: A Look Back
2002 • Self / Theo Huxtable (archive footage)
NBC 75th Anniversary Special poster
NBC 75th Anniversary Special
2002 • Self
The Legend of the Candy Cane poster
The Legend of the Candy Cane
2001 • Rusty (voice)
Restaurant poster
Restaurant
2000 • Steven
A Fare to Remember poster
A Fare to Remember
1999 • Winter Valen
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Phil Hartman poster
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Phil Hartman
1998 • Theo Huxtable
The Tuskegee Airmen poster
The Tuskegee Airmen
1995 • Leroy Cappy
Tyson poster
Tyson
1995 • Rory Holloway
Drop Zone poster
Drop Zone
1994 • Terry Nessip
Sesame Street Jam: A Musical Celebration poster
Sesame Street Jam: A Musical Celebration
1993 • Self (segment "Monster in the Mirror")
The Real Malcolm X poster
The Real Malcolm X
1992
No Image
Surviving A Break-Up
1992 • Self
Time Out: The Truth About HIV, AIDS and You poster
Time Out: The Truth About HIV, AIDS and You
1992 • Self
The Earth Day Special poster
The Earth Day Special
1990 • Theo Huxtable
The Real Story of Itsy Bitsy Spider poster
The Real Story of Itsy Bitsy Spider
1990 • Spinner (voice)
Mother's Day poster
Mother's Day
1989 • Cullen Sturgis
The Father Clements Story poster
The Father Clements Story
1987
No Image
A Desperate Exit
1986 • Charlie Curtis
Disneyland's Summer Vacation Party poster
Disneyland's Summer Vacation Party
1986 • Self
Show Off! How to Be Cool at Parties poster
Show Off! How to Be Cool at Parties
1986
Andy Williams and the NBC Kids Search for Santa poster
Andy Williams and the NBC Kids Search for Santa
1985 • Self
The NBC All Star Hour: Let's All Be There poster
The NBC All Star Hour: Let's All Be There
1985
Night of 100 Stars II poster
Night of 100 Stars II
1985 • Self
Home Alone: A Kid's Guide to Playing It Safe When on Your Own poster
Home Alone: A Kid's Guide to Playing It Safe When on Your Own
— • Self