Malcolm-Jamal Warner
Acting • Born 1970-08-18 – Died 2025-07-20
Biography
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
91 credits
Drop Zone
Movie • 1994
Terry Nessip
The Tuskegee Airmen
Movie • 1995
Leroy Cappy
Fool's Gold
Movie • 2008
Cordell
The List
Movie • 2007
Randy
Restaurant
Movie • 2000
Steven
A Fare to Remember
Movie • 1999
Winter Valen
Genius. A Night for Ray Charles
Movie • 2004
Self
The Father Clements Story
Movie • 1987
NBC 75th Anniversary Special
Movie • 2002
Self
Time Out: The Truth About HIV, AIDS and You
Movie • 1992
Self
Megachurch Murder
Movie • 2015
Hamilton Spears
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Phil Hartman
Movie • 1998
Theo Huxtable
Tyson
Movie • 1995
Rory Holloway
Night of 100 Stars II
Movie • 1985
Self
A Desperate Exit
Movie • 1986
Charlie Curtis
The Real Story of Itsy Bitsy Spider
Movie • 1990
Spinner (voice)
2Everything2Terrible2: Tokyo Drift
Movie • 2010
(archive footage)
Show Off! How to Be Cool at Parties
Movie • 1986
Shot
Movie • 2017
EMT Jones
King of the Underground
Movie • 2011
Malcom
Mother's Day
Movie • 1989
Cullen Sturgis
Andy Williams and the NBC Kids Search for Santa
Movie • 1985
Self
The Legend of the Candy Cane
Movie • 2001
Rusty (voice)
Disneyland's Summer Vacation Party
Movie • 1986
Self
The Cosby Show: A Look Back
Movie • 2002
Self / Theo Huxtable (archive footage)
The Earth Day Special
Movie • 1990
Theo Huxtable
Surviving A Break-Up
Movie • 1992
Self
My Nappy Roots: A Journey Through Black Hair-itage
Movie • 2006
Self
Home Alone: A Kid's Guide to Playing It Safe When on Your Own
Movie
Self
The Real Malcolm X
Movie • 1992
The NBC All Star Hour: Let's All Be There
Movie • 1985
Sesame Street Jam: A Musical Celebration
Movie • 1993
Self (segment "Monster in the Mirror")
Malcolm & Eddie
TV • 1996
Malcolm McGee
A Different World
TV • 1987
Theo Huxtable
Jeremiah
TV • 2002
Kurdy
Static Shock
TV • 2000
Lester Biggs (voice)
Touched by an Angel
TV • 1994
Zack
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
TV • 1990
Eric Sanders
Matlock
TV • 1986
Malcolm-Jamal Warner
The Cosby Show
TV • 1984
Theo Huxtable
The View
TV • 1997
Self
E! True Hollywood Story
TV • 1996
All That
TV • 1994
Self
The Search for the Funniest Mom in America
TV • 2005
Secret Talents of the Stars
TV • 2008
Contestant
The Magic School Bus
TV • 1994
The Producer (voice)
The Cleaner
TV • 2008
Battle of the Network Stars
TV • 1976
Tour of Duty
TV • 1987
SPC Ben Sweet
Listen Up!
TV • 2004
Bernie Widmer
Matt Houston
TV • 1982
CBS Storybreak
TV • 1985
Host
Hawthorne
TV • 2009
Where Are They Now?
TV • 1999
Self
100 Greatest Kid Stars
TV • 2005
The Wendy Williams Show
TV • 2008
Here and Now
TV • 1992
Alexander 'A.J.' James
ABC Afterschool Special
TV • 1972
Charlie Curtis
Good Day Live
TV • 2001
Self
Sherri
TV • 2009
Kevin
Saturday Night Live
TV • 1975
Self - Host
Reed Between the Lines
TV • 2011
Alex Reed
Community
TV • 2009
Andre Bennett
Major Crimes
TV • 2012
Lt. Chuck Cooper
Hollywood Squares
TV • 1998
Self - Panelist
Dexter
TV • 2006
Rita's Lawyer
Sons of Anarchy
TV • 2008
Sticky
Ten Days in the Valley
TV • 2017
Matt Walker
Lethal Weapon
TV • 2016
David Reed
American Horror Story
TV • 2011
Angus T. Jefferson
Sherri
TV • 2022
Self - Guest
Suits
TV • 2011
Julius Rowe
Carol & the End of the World
TV • 2023
(voice)
The Resident
TV • 2018
AJ Austin
The Michael J. Fox Show
TV • 2013
Russell
The Wonder Years
TV • 2021
Melvin
Sliders
TV • 1995
R.J.
American Crime Story
TV • 2016
Al Cowlings
grown-ish
TV • 2018
Darnell
Sneaky Pete
TV • 2015
James Bagwell
Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce
TV • 2014
Darrell
9-1-1
TV • 2018
Amir Casey
The Irrational
TV • 2023
Dustin Atwood
White Famous
TV • 2017
Nelson Youngblood
Key & Peele
TV • 2012
Dad #3
Key & Peele
TV • 2012
Arthur Washington
Golden Globe Awards
TV • 1944
Self - Accepting Award
Alert: Missing Persons Unit
TV • 2023
Chief Inspector Bill Houston
Seen & Heard: The History of Black Television
TV • 2025
Self
Murder in a Small Town
TV • 2024
Richard Bannister
People's Choice Awards
TV • 1975
Self - Host