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Remembering Malcolm-Jamal Warner of The Cosby Show and Malcolm & Eddie; Futurama Season 13 Drops September 15

Actor, director and musician Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who starred as Theo Huxtable in The Cosby Show and as Malcolm McGee in Malcolm & Eddie, has died. He died on July 20 while swimming at Playa Cocles in Limón Province, Costa Rica. Authorities reported he was caught in a high current and drowned. Bystanders pulled him from the ocean, but he was declared lifeless upon reaching shore. The official cause of death was confirmed as asphyxia by submersion due to drowning. Mr. Warner was 54.

Warner starred as Theodore "Theo" Huxtable in the 1984-1992 NBC sitcom The Cosby Show. Theo is the only son of Cliff (Bill Cosby) and Clair Huxtable (Phylicia Rashad), and the middle one of their five children. The character was based on Bill Cosby's only son Ennis Cosby. He also gave the character dyslexia as his son also had the condition. In 1986, he was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series at the 38th Primetime Emmy Awards, making him the youngest nominee in history in that category.

He directed five episodes of the series from 1990 to 1992. He appeared as Theo Huxtable in two episodes of the spinoff A Different World in 1988 and 1989. In 1990, he appeared as Theo Huxtable in The Earth Day Special on ABC. The Cosby Show cast also included Sabrina Le Beauf, Lisa Bonet (1984-1991), Tempestt Bledsoe, Keshia Knight Pulliam, Geoffrey Owens (1986-1992), Joseph C. Phillips (1989-1992), Raven-Symoné, and Erika Alexander (1990-1992).

Warner starred as Alexander "A.J." James in the short-lived 1992-1993 NBC sitcom Here and Now. Alexander "A.J." James is a recent college graduate who majored in psychology now attending post graduate school. He returns to his old neighborhood in Harlem to become a counselor at a local youth center. The series also starred Charles Brown, S. Epatha Merkerson, Daryl "Chill" Mitchell, Rachael Crawford, Jessica Stone, Pee Wee Love, and Shaun Weiss.

He starred as Malcolm McGee in the 1996-2000 UPN sitcom Malcolm & Eddie. Malcolm McGee is a responsible and sensible twenty something who ends up sharing an apartment and a business venture with relentlessly enthusiastic tow truck owner Eddie Sherman (Eddie Griffin) in Kansas City, Missouri (which is Eddie Griffin's hometown). Warner directed 17 episodes of the series from 1997 to 2000. He wrote the story for an episode in 1997. The cast included Karen Malina White, Jaime Cardriche (1996-1998), Miriam Flynn (1996-1997), Christopher Daniel Barnes (1998-2000), and Ron Pearson (1998-2000).

Warner starred as Bernie Widmer in the 2004-2005 CBS sitcom Listen Up. The sitcom was based loosely on the life and exploits of the popular sportswriter and sports-media personality Tony Kornheiser. Tony Kleinman (Jason Alexander) is a Philadelphia based sports show host whose sidekick is Bernie Widmer, a former NFL player; together they host the TV show Listen Up. The series also starred Wendy Makkena, Daniella Monet, and Will Rothhaar.

In 2009, he starred as Kevin Robinson in the short-lived Lifetime sitcom Sherri. Kevin Robinson is the cheating husband of Sherri Robinson (Sherri Shepherd) who she divorces. The cast included Tammy Townsend, Brandon Khalil, Kali Rocha, James Avery, and Kate Reinders.

He starred as Dr. Alex Reed in the 2011 BET and 2015 Centric sitcom Reed Between the Lines. The show follows a modern-day blended family as they navigate life's ups and downs with wit and humor. It centers on Dr. Carla Reed (Tracee Ellis Ross), a busy psychologist, wife and mom struggling to balance her job and her happy but chaotic home life along with her husband, Dr. Alex Reed, an English professor at NYU. Warner directed two episodes of the series in 2011. In 2012, he was nominated for Outstanding Actor in a comedy series at the NAACP Image Awards for his role. The series also starred Nadji A. Jeter, Zoë Soul, Zoé Hendrix, Melissa De Sousa (Season 1), Anna Maria Horsford (Season 1; guest in season 2), Michole White, Tony Rock (Season 2), and Chrlie Robinson (Season 2).

Warner appeared as himself in a 1990 episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. He played Eric Sanders, Hilary Banks' (Karyn Parsons) boyfriend, in a 1991 episode. He had a recurring role as Andre Bennett, the ex-husband of Shirley Bennett (Yvette Nicole Brown), in four episodes of Community from 2011 to 2012. Some of his other sitcom guest appearances included The Michael J. Fox Show, Detroiters, White Famous, The Wonder Years (2023), and grown-ish.

He was also known for his work in dramas. He starred as Kurdy Malloy in the 2002-2004 Showtime post-apocalyptic action drama Jeremiah. He was a recurring cast member as Lt. Chuck Cooper in TNT's Major Crimes from 2013 to 2016. He played Al "A.C." Cowlings in FX's The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story in 2016. He had a recurring role as prison counselor Julius Rowe in six episodes of USA's Suits from 2016 to 2017. He starred as Dr. AJ Austin in the 2018-2023 Fox medical drama The Resident.

Some of his other television guest appearances included Matt Houston, Fame (1983), Call to Glory, Matlock (1987), Tour of Duty, Touched by an Angel, Sliders, Dexter, The Cleaner, HawthoRNe, Sons of Anarchy (3 episodes), American Horror Story (3 episodes), House of Lies, Lethal Weapon, Accused, 9-1-1 (4 episodes), and Alert: Missing Persons Unit (3 episodes).

Some of his other directing credits included The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Kenan & Kel (2 episodes), All That (6 episodes), and The Resident. He directed music videos including New Edition's "N.E. Heart Break" (1989), rapper Special Ed's "I'm the Magnificent" (1989) and British R&B group Five Star's "I Love You For Sentimental Reasons" (1994).

In 2015, Warner received a Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance for the song "Jesus Children" alongside Robert Glasper Experiment and Lalah Hathaway.

He was interviewed for The Interviews: An Oral History of Television on July 3, 2013.

Mr. Warner was a talented and versatile actor. He grew up on television as Theo Huxtable for eight funny and memorable seasons of The Cosby Show. We thank him for the laughs and entertainment that he brought us in his career. He will be greatly missed.

Share your memories on our The Cosby Show and Malcolm & Eddie message boards.

We also remember Hall of Fame songwriter Alan Bergman. He wrote the theme song lyrics for Maude, Good Times and Alice with his wife Marilyn Bergman. He died of natural causes at his home in Los Angeles on July 17. Mr. Bergman was 99.

Alan and Marilyn Bergman wrote the theme song lyrics for the 1972 CBS sitcom The Sandy Duncan Show, with Dave Grusin providing the music. They wrote the theme song lyrics for "And Then There's Maude" for the 1972-1978 CBS sitcom Maude, with Dave Grusin providing the music. It was performed by Donny Hathaway. They wrote the gospel-style theme song lyrics for the 1974-1979 CBS sitcom Good Times, with Dave Grusin providing the music. It was sung by Jim Gilstrap and Motown singer Blinky Williams with a gospel choir providing background vocals. They wrote the theme song lyrics for "There's a New Girl in Town" for the 1976-1985 CBS sitcom Alice, with David Shire providing the music. It was performed by Linda Lavin.

The Bergmans were honored with three Academy Awards (1969, 1974, 1984), three Emmy Awards, the Grammy Award for Song of the Year, and were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Their notable compositions included "The Way We Were", "The Windmills of Your Mind" and "You Don't Bring Me Flowers." We thank him and his wife for writing the lyrics for the memorable theme songs of Maude, Good Times and Alice. He will be sorely missed.

Television writer and producer David Flebotte worked on Ellen, Suddenly Susan, 8 Simple Rules, and Will & Grace. He died from cystic fibrosis at a hospital in Missoula, Montana, on July 8. Mr. Flebotte was 65.

Flebotte's sitcom writing credits included Good Advice, The 5 Mrs. Buchanans (2 episodes), Ellen (7 episodes), Suddenly Susan, The PJs (3 episodes), The Geena Davis Show, 8 Simple Rules (3 episodes), and Will & Grace. In 1999, he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in the category Best Animated Program for his work on the Fox stop motion-animated sitcom The PJs. He created the short-lived 2009 Lifetime sitcom Sherri, which starred Sherri Shepherd.

Some of his sitcom producing credits included Ellen, Suddenly Susan, The Geena Davis Show, The Bernie Mac Show, 8 Simple Rules, Will & Grace, Sherri, and Raising Hope.

He created the 2017-2018 Showtime comedy-drama I'm Dying Up Here. Some of his other producing credits included Men in Trees, Dirt, Desperate Housewives, Boardwalk Empire, Masters of Sex, and Tulsa King.

Mr. Flebotte worked extensively in television as a writer and producer, contributing to both sitcoms and dramas across major networks and streaming platforms. We thank him for work on television. He will be greatly missed.

Futurama season 13 lands on Hulu on September 15 at 5:00 PM PT/8:00 PM ET with all 10 episodes at once. Hulu has also debuted seven First Look images from the upcoming season. Season 13 will also premiere September 15 at 8/7c with two episodes weekly on FXX. Futurama seasons 11 and 12 previously premiered on Hulu with one episode at launch and one new episode weekly.

Bender is rampaging out of control! A volcano is about to explode! Fry confronts a rival for Leela's love! And Dr. Zoidberg is rising up to heaven?! The excitement might be too much! You've been warned... it's an all new season of Futurama!

CAST: John DiMaggio, Billy West, Katey Sagal, Tress MacNeille, Maurice LaMarche, Lauren Tom, Phil Lamar, David Herman

Posted by Todd -- SitcomsOnline.com at 1:00 PM

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Labels: Cosby Show, Futurama, FXX, Hulu, Malcolm and Eddie, Obits, Reed Between the Lines, Sherri, The Resident