Malcolm-Jamal Warner Dead at 54 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

icecream · 07-21-2025, 04:10 PM

Official cause of death was asphyxia, he drowned attempting to swim off the coast of Costa Rica. Malcolm-Jamal is best known as Theo on The Cosby Show but has done a bunch of other acting. He starred in the UPN sitcom Malcolm and Eddie which lasted four seasons and co-starred in the one season CBS sitcom Listen Up with Jason Alexander. He also was in all six seasons of The Resident and had recurring roles on numerous dramas including Major Crimes, Suits, and 9-1-1.

https://tvline.com/news/malcolm-jama...ry-1235476964/

icecream · 07-21-2025, 04:24 PM

Malcolm and Eddie's four seasons aired from 1996-2000, the exact same years Bill Cosby and Phylicia Rashad's CBS sitcom Cosby aired. UPN was technically a broadcast network but never available OTA in Fort Wayne until the start of digital subchannels. Listen Up aired Mondays at 8:30 in the 2004-2005 season, between Still Standing and Everybody Loves Raymond. I am glad it repeated some in the summer, what I saw of Listen Up was much better than Yes, Dear which aired several more seasons and on par with Still Standing which had four seasons. And much better than garbage like Two and a Half Men, although I did watch that at the time. Listen Up was also much better than The King of Queens which has not deserved its syndication success. Even with being a Leah Remini fan now from People Puzzler, I haven't been interested in giving King of Queens another chance so far.

Lee · 07-21-2025, 06:32 PM

Rest in peace, Malcolm

Bonniegirl · 07-21-2025, 08:37 PM

Very very sad! So sorry this happened ! Tragic !

May he rest in peace .

AMackII · 07-21-2025, 09:32 PM

It’s one of most heartbreaking famous passings during the past 30-40 years; Rest in Power Malcolm

TMC · 07-22-2025, 12:17 AM

Alyssa Milano's thoughts.

A post shared by on Jan 01, 2022 at 12:00pm PDT

Alyssa's show, Who's the Boss? actually premiered on ABC on the exact same day as The Cosby Show premiered on NBC, September 20, 1984.

Dude111 · 07-22-2025, 01:33 AM

Very very sad......... I couldnt do it either,Im terrible at swimming!!

Sid · 07-22-2025, 01:37 AM

Only 54 the same age as John Ritter when he died.

Dianne3 · 07-22-2025, 03:45 PM

RIP

I always thought Theo was the best/most consistent character throughout the entire series.

MJM would have turned 55 next month.

staytuned · 07-23-2025, 01:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sid

Only 54 the same age as John Ritter when he died.

What's also strange about that is Ritter along with his former wife/future widow Amy Yasbeck has made a guest appearance on an episode of The Cosby Show called "Total Control" (season 7, Episode 16) where Ritter plays a father-to-be named Ray Evans as he misuses his basketball coaching skills when he coaches his wife Alicia Evans through labor.

BigManMike · 07-23-2025, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by staytuned

What's also strange about that is Ritter along with his former wife/future widow Amy Yasbeck has made a guest appearance on an episode of The Cosby Show called "Total Control" (season 7, Episode 16) where Ritter plays a father-to-be named Ray Evans as he misuses his basketball coaching skills when his coaches his wife Alicia Evans through labor.

And what’s unusual about that episode is none of the main cast other than Bill Cosby appear in that episode except one small scene with Olivia.

staytuned · 07-23-2025, 08:53 AM

Wow BigManMike, I guess the other cast members had side hustle at the time LOL.

stevea · 07-23-2025, 11:02 AM

RIP.

Charles Knox · 07-23-2025, 02:26 PM

Sounds like a pilot episode for a show that didn't get picked up.

tenter · 07-24-2025, 02:19 PM

Sad to see him pass away that young for age.. RIP

07-21-2025, 04:10 PM	#1
icecream Cat-tastic and Whiskerlicious Forum Celebrity Join Date: Sep 01, 2006 Location: The Catacombs Posts: 20,798	Malcolm-Jamal Warner Dead at 54 Official cause of death was asphyxia, he drowned attempting to swim off the coast of Costa Rica. Malcolm-Jamal is best known as Theo on The Cosby Show but has done a bunch of other acting. He starred in the UPN sitcom Malcolm and Eddie which lasted four seasons and co-starred in the one season CBS sitcom Listen Up with Jason Alexander. He also was in all six seasons of The Resident and had recurring roles on numerous dramas including Major Crimes, Suits, and 9-1-1. https://tvline.com/news/malcolm-jama...ry-1235476964/
	__________________ Top 200 TV Shows https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...14#post6225214 Top 150 Movies https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...84#post6175384 Top 1100 Scripted TV Characters https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...d.php?t=493306 Top Rookie TV Shows by Calendar Year https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...d.php?t=365017 Top Movies by Calendar Year https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...d.php?t=473533

07-22-2025, 12:17 AM	#6
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 126,454	Alyssa Milano's thoughts. A post shared by on Jan 01, 2022 at 12:00pm PDT Alyssa's show, Who's the Boss? actually premiered on ABC on the exact same day as The Cosby Show premiered on NBC, September 20, 1984.

07-22-2025, 01:37 AM	#8
Sid Little Mac and Doc Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 22, 2003 Posts: 150	Only 54 the same age as John Ritter when he died.
	__________________ from South Park Jimmy: Okay. Try this one on for size: Why did the... pigeon cross the road? Cartman: Okay, why? Jimmy: Because it was having sex with the chihi... Because it was having sex with the ch-hi-hi... Because it was having sex with the ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch... eh, it was having sex with the ch-ch-hiicken

07-21-2025, 04:24 PM	#2
icecream Cat-tastic and Whiskerlicious Forum Celebrity Join Date: Sep 01, 2006 Location: The Catacombs Posts: 20,798	Malcolm and Eddie's four seasons aired from 1996-2000, the exact same years Bill Cosby and Phylicia Rashad's CBS sitcom Cosby aired. UPN was technically a broadcast network but never available OTA in Fort Wayne until the start of digital subchannels. Listen Up aired Mondays at 8:30 in the 2004-2005 season, between Still Standing and Everybody Loves Raymond. I am glad it repeated some in the summer, what I saw of Listen Up was much better than Yes, Dear which aired several more seasons and on par with Still Standing which had four seasons. And much better than garbage like Two and a Half Men, although I did watch that at the time. Listen Up was also much better than The King of Queens which has not deserved its syndication success. Even with being a Leah Remini fan now from People Puzzler, I haven't been interested in giving King of Queens another chance so far.

07-21-2025, 06:32 PM	#3
Lee veteran member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: May 23, 2001 Location: Pulaski, Tennessee Posts: 4,768	Rest in peace, Malcolm

07-21-2025, 08:37 PM	#4
Bonniegirl AKA Hazel Horvath Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 10, 2014 Posts: 65,819	Very very sad! So sorry this happened ! Tragic ! May he rest in peace .

07-21-2025, 09:32 PM	#5
AMackII Member Forum Star Join Date: Oct 23, 2015 Location: St. Louis Posts: 17,222	It’s one of most heartbreaking famous passings during the past 30-40 years; Rest in Power Malcolm

07-22-2025, 01:33 AM	#7
Dude111 Forum Legend Join Date: Nov 05, 2013 Posts: 36,396	Very very sad......... I couldnt do it either,Im terrible at swimming!!

07-22-2025, 03:45 PM	#9
Dianne3 Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 07, 2002 Posts: 1,058	RIP I always thought Theo was the best/most consistent character throughout the entire series. MJM would have turned 55 next month.

07-23-2025, 08:53 AM	#12
staytuned Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 22, 2025 Location: Some Where You are Posts: 270	Wow BigManMike, I guess the other cast members had side hustle at the time LOL.

07-23-2025, 11:02 AM	#13
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,765	RIP.

07-23-2025, 02:26 PM	#14
Charles Knox Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 17, 2009 Posts: 1,225	Sounds like a pilot episode for a show that didn't get picked up.

07-24-2025, 02:19 PM	#15
tenter Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 28, 2014 Posts: 3,582	Sad to see him pass away that young for age.. RIP