Grammy-Winning Bassist and 'Cosby Show' Star Malcolm-Jamal Warner dead at 54

Malcolm-Jamal Warner performs with his band Miles Long at a live show in Atlanta in 2022. Warner, who died Sunday in Costa Rica at age 54, earned Grammy recognition for blending jazz-funk bass lines with spoken-word poetry. (Screenshot via YouTube/Miles Long Live, “Spark & Tingle” performance)

Malcolm‑Jamal Warner — Emmy‑nominated actor turned Grammy‑winning bassist and spoken‑word poet
— drowned Sunday while swimming with relatives at Playa Cocles on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast. He was 54.

According to Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Department, Warner was caught in a rip current and died of accidental asphyxia. News of his death was confirmed Monday.

Born August 18, 1970, in Jersey City, New Jersey, Warner gained national attention as a teenager playing Theo Huxtable on the NBC sitcom “The Cosby Show.” His performance earned him an Emmy nomination and made him a cultural icon — but that role would become just the first act in a lifelong creative journey.

 

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Off camera, Warner developed a parallel career as a musician, forming the jazz‑funk spoken‑word band Miles Long. Across multiple studio releases — including “The Miles Long Mixtape,” “Love & Other Social Issues,” “Selfless,” and “Hiding in Plain View” — Warner blended upright bass grooves with socially conscious lyrics and poetic monologues. His work drew on influences from classic soul, jazz, and hip‑hop, and earned respect across live music circles and underground poetry communities alike.

 

In 2015, Warner won a Grammy Award for best traditional R&B performance for his contribution to a reinterpretation of Stevie Wonder’s “Jesus Children of America,” recorded by Robert Glasper Experiment and featuring Lalah Hathaway. The track marked Warner’s deepening presence in music as both a collaborator and a creative voice.

“Hiding in Plain View,” released in 2022, received a Grammy nomination in 2023 for best spoken‑word poetry album. Warner’s delivery — intimate, urgent, and rooted in tradition — stood out in a crowded field and solidified his reputation as more than a former TV star.

Beyond the stage and studio, Warner remained active in television, with notable roles on “Malcolm & Eddie,” “The People v. O.J. Simpson,” “Reed Between the Lines,” and “The Resident.” He also used his platform to elevate community dialogue through the podcast “Not All Hood,” which launched in 2023 and featured conversations centered around Black identity, mental health, and creativity.

Malcolm‑Jamal Warner’s Music Legacy

Band: Miles Long
Genre: Jazz‑funk / Spoken word / Neo‑soul
Role: Bassist, bandleader, spoken‑word poet

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🎧 Key Albums:

• “The Miles Long Mixtape” (2004)
  Warner’s first full-length musical release — a raw blend of funk basslines and lyrical poetry.
• “Love & Other Social Issues” (2007)
  A concept project tackling relationships, politics, and social justice through groove‑driven arrangements.
• “Selfless” (2015)
  Featured collaborations with Lalah Hathaway. “Spark & Tingle” became a standout track.
• “Hiding in Plain View” (2022)
  Career-defining work nominated for a 2023 Grammy for best spoken-word poetry album.

🏆 Grammy Recognition:

• Winner (2015) — Best Traditional R&B Performance
  With Robert Glasper Experiment and Lalah Hathaway on “Jesus Children of America.”
• Nominee (2023) — Best Spoken-Word Poetry Album
  For “Hiding in Plain View.”

🎙️ Live & Beyond:

• Performed at Blue Note, Playboy Jazz Festival, Indy Jazz Fest
• Collaborated with Robert Glasper, Ledisi, Lalah Hathaway
• Hosted podcast “Not All Hood” (2023), focused on Black identity & mental health

Legacy: Warner transformed a TV icon’s spotlight into a mic for truth — fusing rhythm, resistance, and reflection through every bar and bassline.