Malcolm-Jamal Warner (54), the actor famous for his role as 'Theo' in the American sitcom 'The Cosby Show' (which aired in Korea in the 1980s and 90s), has died while swimming at a beach on the Caribbean coast.
On the 21st (local time), Costa Rican police announced that Warner drowned on the afternoon of the 20th at Cocles Beach on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. It is reported that Warner was swept away by a rip current while swimming.
Authorities stated that Warner was rescued by people at the scene, but he had already passed away by the time emergency responders arrived. He was on vacation with his family.
He gained fame for his role as 'Theo Huxtable', the teenage son of Bill Cosby, in the popular sitcom 'The Cosby Show', which aired on NBC from 1984 to 1992.
The 'Cosby Show', which depicted the daily life of a successful African American family, was broadcast in Korea as 'Long Live the Cosby Family' and gained great popularity.
In particular, the character he portrayed, Theo, was the only son among Cosby's five children and was regarded as a representative figure of American teenage males.
For this role, he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 1986, and he continued to appear in various sitcoms thereafter.
According to Reuters, his name was inspired by civil rights activist Malcolm X and jazz musician Ahmad Jamal. He is survived by his wife and daughter.
