After a Life-Altering Loss, Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s Mother Speaks From the Heart

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If you grew up in the 1980s, you probably watched The Cosby Show, which aired from 1984 to 1992. Malcolm-Jamal Warner played Theo Huxtable, the teenage son, on the famous sitcom. The actor, writer, and musician sadly passed away in a tragic drowning accident while in Costa Rica. His mother, Pamela Warner, sat down with Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts to share more about the loss of her son.

Malcolm-Jamal Warner was just 54 when he lost his life in the waters of Costa Rica on July 20th, 2025. The actor had been married to his wife, Tenisha Warner, since 2017, and they had one daughter together, aged eight. He, his wife, and his daughter were in Costa Rica on a homeschooling trip. It was a part of an immersion program she was taking part in.

Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s Daughter Was Not in the Water With Him

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In addition to The Cosby Show, Malcolm-Jamal Warner also starred in Malcolm & Eddie from 1996 to 2000, Reed Between the Lines from 2011 to 2015, and, more recently, The Resident, with his last credit being in a few episodes of Alert: Missing Persons Unit.

During the interview, Pamela confirmed that Malcolm’s daughter was not in the water when he drowned, even though some reports shared that she was. He was in the water with another man.

The Undertown Took Malcolm

“They were in the water, I think maybe chest deep, even at that — maybe waist deep," she shares. "There was an undertow, and my son was not an experienced swimmer. He did not know how to deal with an undertow."

The other man did survive. "The same [undertow] happened to the other gentleman, but he was a more experienced swimmer and he was able to rescue himself. But Malcolm was not."

The Deep Conversations She Had With Her Son Bring Her Comfort

When Pamela heard the news of her son’s death, those in her cul-de-sac heard her screams. “It was from the bottom of my soul,” she shares. “And what came up and what came out was huge, it was an indescribable pain that resonated throughout my body,"

For Pamela, that was the physical part of losing her son. "The spiritual part of it was — that was his time," she said. "This is what I believe and what I feel."

She goes on to share that the deep conversations she had with her son through the years bring her comfort now that he is gone.

She is Grateful to Be Chosen to Be His Mother

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“I am very grateful that I was chosen to be his mother,” she says.

She also shares that she is at peace with what happened. “There was nothing left on the table. There was no shoulda, coulda, woulda,” she tells Robin.

As heartbroken as a mother would be losing her son, feeling at peace about it all has got to be a blessing from the Lord.

The Family is in Deep Grief

Pamela’s granddaughter watched on the beach as first responders tried to resuscitate him. “She saw that,” she shares. “I know that’s awfully, awfully traumatic. She loved her father dearly.”

Both she and Tenisha, are both, as you can expect, in deep grief.

Pamela Will Continue His Legacy

Despite this tragedy, Pamela wants people to continue to support Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s legacy. “Love where you can, give when you can, just be better,” she says, “Just be better because that’s what he wanted and that's what he was working towards. We can all be better selves.”

Pamela will be carrying on his work. He wasn’t just an actor but also a writer and musician, and was committed to helping young artists. It is her mission now.

We hold his family in our prayers as they continue to grieve the loss of their son, father, and husband.

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Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, give I to you. Don’t let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful. - John 14:27

WATCH: Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s Mother Speaks From the Heart

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h/t: PEOPLE

Featured Image Credit: YouTube/Good Morning America