Friends and fans of “The Cosby Show” standout Malcolm-Jamal Warner reacted with shock and heartbreak to news of his drowning in Costa Rica.
Sherri Shepherd, who played the 54-year-old actor’s wife on the 2009 sitcom “Sherri,” said in a statement to the Daily News that she was “devastated” by her friend’s death.
“To know Malcolm was to know a renaissance man that possessed humor, grace, humility and deep cultural appreciation,” she said. “He was just a good guy! His passing is a true loss to the Hollywood community.”
Warner died Sunday while vacationing with his family. Authorities told ABC News he was the victim of an unexpectedly strong current.
Actor Tracee Ellis Ross played Warner’s wife in the BET sitcom “Reed Between the Lines.” She remembered first knowing her former co-star as Theo Huxtable from “The Cosby Show” before coming to know him as a friend.
“What an actor and friend you were: warm, gentle, present, kind, thoughtful, deep, funny, elegant,” she posted on Instagram. “You made the world a brighter place.”
Basketball superstar Magic Johnson said on X that he and his wife Cookie were fans of “The Cosby Show” as well as Warner programs “Malcolm and Eddie” and “The Resident,” but enjoyed seeing him outside of the television world, too.
“Every time I ran into Malcolm, we would have deep and fun conversations about basketball, life, and business. He will truly be missed,” Johnson said.
The NAACP thanked Warner for his cultural impact.
“Your talent and spirit touched many lives, and your legacy will continue to inspire,” the organization posted on Facebook.
CBS News correspondent Jericka Duncan posted audio on Instagram of a phone call she had with polarizing “The Cosby Show” creator Bill Cosby. The 88-year-old comic said he last spoke to Warner three months ago and will remember him as a “dearly beloved friend” who worked hard on their classic NBC classic that ran from 1984 to 1992.
“He was quite comfortable even with the growing pains of being a teenager,” Cosby said.
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