Celebrity
Malcolm-Jamal Warner Honored By Phylicia Rashad In Touching Emmys Moment
During an emotional moment at Sunday’s award show, his on-screen mother gave a heartbreaking homage to the adored television son.
When Phylicia Rashad, the famous matriarch of one of the most beloved families on television, took the stage, the audience fell silent. She paid tribute to Malcolm-Jamal Warner on the evening of September 14, 2025, during the 2025 Emmy Awards’ in memoriam portion, under the gentle glow of tribute lights.
“He was a beloved teenager in an iconic television series who the world watched grow into manhood. And like all our friends and colleagues who transitioned this year, Malcolm-Jamal Warner remains in our hearts,” she said before introducing the rest of the solemn tribute.
Remembering Those Lost
Rashad went on to make poignant remarks about the timeless value of acting and the lasting impression that Warner and other performers, as well as those in the television business, left.
“Tonight, as it’s tradition at the Emmys, we remember them not just for their immense talent but also for the way they made us believe in something bigger: the best that is within us,” she expressed, adding that they will continue living in the stories they told and how they helped shape entertainment.
After her heartfelt remarks, Rashad invited music legend Vince Gill and country music singer Lainey Wilson to perform the poignantly relevant ballad “Go Rest High on That Mountain.”
Screens all over the world glowed with pictures of Ozzy Osbourne, Maggie Smith, David Lynch, Quincy Jones, Michelle Trachtenberg, and others while their voices filled the room.
A Sudden Death That Shook Hollywood
Warner, who will always be remembered in America as Theodore “Theo” Huxtable, died tragically in July at the age of 54 after drowning in a devastating accident off the coast of Costa Rica. The actor passed away from asphyxia, according to local officials.
Warner’s performance on “The Cosby Show” garnered him an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor. He went on to have a career characterized by versatility, tenacity, and reinvention that lasted for decades.
He later played a conscientious doctor in BET’s “Reed Between the Lines,” costarred with Eddie Griffin in the popular sitcom “Malcolm & Eddie,” and most recently made appearances in five of the six suspenseful seasons of Fox’s medical drama “The Resident.”
A Role He Almost Didn’t Get
Nevertheless, the tale of his breakthrough performance is legendary in Hollywood. In an interview with “Live with Kelly and Mark,” in 2023, Warner talked about how he almost lost the opportunity to become a Huxtable.
According to him, the original goal of the show was to find a “6-foot-2-inch 16-year-old” who would resemble Bill Cosby’s real-life kid. Even though Warner didn’t meet that requirement, his agent still submitted him, and after casting failed to locate a suitable height match, Warner’s representative persisted in trying again.
“I was literally the last person they saw,” he added, and the rest is history.
Malcolm-Jamal Warner stated his opinion that the sitcom had a significant cultural impact on America even prior to his passing. In a moving interview with Bevy Smith in 2023, he claimed that “The Cosby Show” had motivated a whole generation to pursue higher education and start lovely families.
Tributes to the Actor
Warner himself made a significant contribution to history. Actors and celebrities who knew, collaborated with, or were influenced by Warner paid tribute to him upon his death, as was previously reported.
Tracee Ellis Ross, his co-star in “Reed Between the Lines,” shared a carousel of photos of the two on Instagram. She also wrote an emotional tribute, “I love you, Malcolm. First I met you as Theo with the rest of the world then you were my first TV husband. My heart is so so sad.”
Ross remembered him as a talented actor and a dear friend, highlighting his warmth, gentleness, presence, kindness, thoughtfulness, depth, humor, and elegance. The actress concluded, “You made the world a brighter place. Sending so much love to your family. I’m so sorry for this unimaginable loss.”
Cosby also reminisced fondly about his on-screen son, recalling Warner as the epitome of professionalism throughout their years together. “He was always a great studier, and I enjoyed working with him very much,” he stated.
The 88-year-old added, “He was very professional. He always knew his part… He always knew his lines, and he always knew where to go.”
Cosby’s real-life son Ennis, who was tragically killed in 1997, served as a loose inspiration for the character of Theo Huxtable. Cosby mentioned that even after “The Cosby Show” ended, he and Warner stayed friends.
A Deep Sadness
Other Hollywood stars who crossed paths with Warner in various capacities have also mourned his loss. Jamie Foxx, shaken by the news, wrote on Instagram, “Speechless on this one. Rest in power, my brother.”
Earvin Magic Johnson, a businessman and former basketball player, and his wife Cookie also expressed their sympathy. He expressed their sorrow on the passing of their close buddy Warner in a message shared on X, adding that they had long admired his work.
He continued, “Every time I ran into Malcolm, we would have deep and fun conversations about basketball, life, and business. He will truly be missed. Cookie and I are praying his family and close friends during this difficult time.”
Taraji P. Henson paid tribute to Warner with a heartfelt message accompanied by a collage of photos from his acting career. She wrote, “This one hurt. Malcolm, we grew up with you. Thank you for the art, the wisdom, the grace you gave us!!!!!”
She continued, “You left the world better than you found it. Rest easy, king!!!! Your legacy lives far beyond the screen. ️”
Jennifer Hudson shared her sorrow over Warner’s passing on X, saying she was “devastated by this news” and “truly heartbroken,” before adding, “Rest well, king.”
A Guiding Role Model
Questlove, a drummer and record producer, also made a statement, delivering a very moving and intimate ode to Warner. He considered the impact his portrayal of Theo had on a whole generation. “If you looked like me coming of age in the 80s, Malcom-as-Theo was a gps/lighthouse of navigating safety to adulthood,” he stated.
The 54-year-old continued, “For those of us that didn’t have ‘examples’ or ‘safe environments’ — I would like to think for anyone of age we used this entire show — and its offspring as life blueprints.”
Warner’s passing was particularly tough for Questlove, who wrote, “Losing the Huxtables was a painful divorce I wasn’t ready for but I never once thought about the offspring of that show transitioning before I did.”
Warner’s character, he said, was someone he related to. “Seeing myself in every episode through his shoes: like being bad at football, wanting clothes outside of my budget, hiding things from your parents (ear piercings or weed), living in a ‘respectable politics’ house of jazz vs ‘teen music’… him dealing with dyslexia,” Questlove pointed out.
The drummer recalled the first time they met, “Meeting him on 94 was a thrill when I first got in the biz.” Warner, he added, was very welcoming, “Mal Jam was the earliest co-signer of the Roots. He attended many a show way before the world got to know us.”
They bonded over their mutual love of music, and Questlove lamented that their plans had never materialized. He shared, “All that time talking about music extensively and we never got our chance to collaborate as we said we would.”
He recalled Warner as sensible and sensible. “He was an amazing soul who always took the time out to school me and talk about his experiences in life and the business,” said Questlove.
He claimed that in spite of these difficulties, Warner “expressed ZERO cynicism or bitterness in his journey and constantly lived in the present which dictated his future.”
According to Questlove, “He was never the guy stuck in a glory days bubble (but always graciously obliged me when I asked a gajillion questions of ‘what was it like back then?!!’).”
The drummer closed his tribute with a heartfelt farewell, “I wasn’t prepared to say goodbye in this manner but here we are in 2025. Love & Strength to his family and his loved ones and all of the people his life’s journey inspired. ‘Thank you Mal Jammin On The One!'”
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