Malcolm-Jamal Warner reflected on how he wanted to be remembered just two months before his passing.
There's now more information available on Malcolm-Jamal Warner's last days. The Cosby Show star, who portrayed Theodore Huxtable on the NBC sitcom, had his final public interview two months before his untimely death after an accidental drowning. In it, he was open about his wishes for his legacy.
On May 21, Warner stated about his legacy, "I will be able to leave this earth knowing and people knowing that I was a good person," on an episode of the Hot & Bothered with Melyssa Ford podcast. "You know people love you, and people [are] always talking about your career and your success and all of that, but what really makes me the most proud is that you are a good," my father used to say to me frequently.
He also hoped his Hollywood career would leave a lasting impression. After all, Warner has achieved the unique distinction of starring in a number of popular television shows after The Cosby Show is huge popularity, such as The Resident and Reed Between the Lines.
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"I remember my mother said to me one time that, 'Mr. Cosby gave you immortality,' so I know on one lane there's legacy there," he revealed. "But then, because I've had this full life after that show, there's another lane of legacy that I get to leave."
Warner also stated that he wanted to be recognized for his professional accomplishments, but he also made it clear that he wanted people to take away a valuable lesson from his life's journey. He said that he wanted to demonstrate that "with all of the darkness in the world, it is possible to maintain your soul and be a good person."
Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Agency confirmed in a translated statement that Warner was swimming in the ocean on July 20 while on vacation in Costa Rica when a current pulled him deeper into the water; the agency said that although he was later rescued by beachgoers, Warner was "declared lifeless at the scene."
Warner's official cause of death was hypoxia, which the Costa Rican National Police confirmed to ABC News shortly after. His age was 54. Warner's sentiments on his legacy were reflected by the heartfelt condolences he received from a number of his friends and co-stars after the unfortunate accident.
The actor's co-star on Reed Between the Lines, Tracee Ellis Ross, wrote on Instagram on July 21: "What an actor and friend you were: warm, gentle, present, kind, thoughtful, deep, funny, elegant." "You made the world a brighter place. Sending so much love to your family. I’m so sorry for this unimaginable loss.”
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