American actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, 54, has died while swimming at a beach on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. He gained recognition for his role as 'Theo' in the U.S. sitcom 'Cosby Show', which was also aired in Korea.
Costa Rican authorities announced on the 21st (local time) that Warner drowned at Cocles Beach in the Caribbean on the afternoon of the 20th. It is reported that he was swept away by an IAAN while swimming at the time.
Officials reported that Warner was rescued by people present at the scene, but by the time emergency services arrived, he had already passed away. He was on vacation with his family.
Warner appeared as 'Theo Huxtable,' the teenage son of Bill Cosby, in the sitcom 'Cosby Show,' which aired on NBC from 1984 to 1992. The 'Cosby Show,' which depicted the daily life of a successful Black family, was broadcast in Korea as 'Long Live the Cosby Family' and gained immense popularity. For this role, he was nominated for the Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 1986. He continued to appear in numerous sitcoms afterward.
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.