Tributes continue to pour in for actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who drowned Sunday during a Costa Rica vacation with his family. Warner, who most famously played Theo Huxtable on the classic 1980s sitcom The Cosby Show, was reportedly swimming in the ocean at Playa Grande de Cocles – an area known for strong currents – when one pulled him under. He was 54.
“I love you, Malcolm,” actress Tracee Ellis Ross, who played Warner’s wife on the short-lived 2011 sitcom Reed Between the Lines, wrote in an Instagram post. “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.
Meanwhile, basketball legend Magic Johnson tweeted condolences and added that, “Every time I ran into Malcolm, we would have deep and fun conversations about basketball, life, and business. He will truly be missed.”
And Angela Bassett, who appeared with Warner last year on the Ryan Murphy series 9-1-1, posted a heartfelt tribute to Instagram. “In this life, Malcolm is what’s known as a soulful artist whose deep commitment to his craft left an impression on me that has never faded,” she wrote. “He carried the weight of cultural legacy with grace, and he always made space for others to shine. His light will remain in our hearts always.”
In addition, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Hudson, Marlee Matlin and others shared tributes to Warner on social media, which you can see below:
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