Warner produced a number of television moments that would live on in the memory of Generation X kids and their parents. These include a pilot episode in which Theo tries to conceal his ear piercing from his father and another in which he quarrels with Bill Cosby’s character Cliff Huxtable about money. His Being the only son out of four daughters in the home of Cliff Huxtable and Phylicia Rashad’s character Clair Huxtable on the NBC comedy, Theo would go on to become one of the most iconic figures of American adolescence on a program that was the most watched in the country for a large portion of its existence from 1984 to 1992.
He appeared in all 197 episodes of the show during his eight seasons in the role, and in 1986, he was nominated for an Emmy for supporting actor in a comedy. The character’s and Warner’s most enduring image for many people is of him sporting a crudely designed imitation designer shirt that was sewn by his sister Denise, who is portrayed by Lisa Bonet. Later, the Gordon Gartrell shirt became a meme after Anthony Mackie wore one on Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show and a toddler wearing one was used as Warner’s Instagram profile picture.
Among those paying respect on Monday was NBA Hall of Famer Magic Johnson. On X, Johnson expressed his and his wife’s sadness about their friend’s passing.
“We were both huge fans of the popular Cosby Show and kept up with his career on shows like The Resident and Malcolm and Eddie,” Johnson added. Malcolm and I would always have interesting and enjoyable discussions about basketball, life, and business whenever I saw him. He will be sincerely missed.
Warner had to deal with the accusations of sexual assault against the show’s title star, whose conviction in a Pennsylvania court was eventually overturned, just like the other members of the “Cosby Show” cast.
In 2015, Warner informed The Associated Press that the legacy of the show was damaged.
Warner stated, “The images of people of color on television and film are my biggest concern.” The Cosby Show has always been there to protect us from that. The thing that hurts me the most is that we no longer have it, because the Huxtables will only exist in fairy tale form in a few generations.
Cosby’s representatives declined to react immediately.
For over 40 years, Warner was a consistent actor. From 1996 until 2000, he costarred with comedian Eddie Griffin in the hit sitcom Malcolm & Eddie, which was shown on the now-defunct UPN network. This was his first significant role after “Cosby.”
“I’m feeling very sad right now,” Griffin posted on Instagram on Monday. You have conquered life and now you will live in eternal joy, so rest easy, my brother.
He portrayed a family-blending pair on the BET sitcom Read Between the Lines for two seasons in the 2010s, opposite Tracee Ellis Ross. He also appeared in American Crime Story as Al Cowlings, a friend of O.J. Simpson, and Fox’s The Resident as a series regular.
Ross posted on Instagram, “You were my first TV husband after I first met you as Theo with the rest of the world.” My heart aches so much. Warm, courteous, present, considerate, profound, humorous, and elegant were all qualities that characterized you as an actor and friend.
The 2008 romantic comedy “Fool’s Gold” starring Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson was one of Warner’s cinematic roles. In addition to being a musician and poet, Warner won a Grammy for best traditional R&B performance and was nominated for best spoken word poetry album for his song “Hiding in Plain View.”
In addition, Warner directed episodes of Kenan & Kel, Read Between the Lines, Malcolm & Eddie, and All That.
Jersey City, New Jersey, is where Warner was born in 1970. According to reports, his mother, Pamela Warner, named him after jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal and Malcolm X. When he started acting at the age of nine, she was his manager.
He appeared as a guest on the television programs Fame and Matt Houston, his first credit, in the early 1980s.
After a thorough search for the ideal kid actor, Warner was 13 when he was cast in an audition as Theo.
Even though Cosby was a well-known celebrity at the time and the program was expected to be seen by many, few could have foreseen the enormous, multi-year phenomenon it would grow into.
Despite being married and having a young daughter, he decided not to reveal their identities to the world. Representatives for Warner declined to remark on his passing right away.
His last TV credits included guest spots on shows including Grown-ish, The Wonder Years, and 9-1-1, where he starred in a four-episode storyline last year.
Warner told the AP in 2015, “I had a crazy obsession growing up with not wanting to be one of those where are they now kids.” Having all of these ways to express myself, being where I am now, and finally being able to let go of the concern about living after Cosby, makes me feel incredibly fortunate.
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AP Entertainment Reporting from Los Angeles was writer Andrew Dalton. Jocelyn Noveck, an AP National Writer, provided reporting from New York.
Thanks to AP
Thanks to AP
Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP is credited.
Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP is credited.
Danny Moloshok/Invision/AP is credited.
Danny Moloshok/Invision/AP is credited.
