They may not have been a real family, but Bill Cosby is devastated over the loss of his on-screen son, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, from The Cosby Show.
The actor died in a drowning incident while swimming in Costa Rica on a family vacation on Sunday. He was just 54. Local authorities believe he stepped into the ocean and got swept away in a strong current — which also nearly took the life of a 35-year-old man who was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. So sad.
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As news circulated about the untimely death, Bill’s rep Andrew Wyatt told People on Monday that the death “reminded [Bill] of the same call he received when his son died.” The disgraced stand-up comedian’s own son, Ennis William Cosby, was murdered in 1997 when he was just 27. He was trying to change a flat tire on a LA freeway ramp when he was shot to death amid an attempted robbery.
Bill’s IRL son “played with Malcolm” growing up, making this loss all the more “devastating.” As for how Cosby is processing the death, the rep shared:
“He found a way to talk about Malcolm even though he was sad.”
The spokesperson added:
“He had just done a concert in Minnesota and called Mr. Cosby and talked about it. They spoke all the time. He said ‘Malcolm was changing humanity.’”
Bill also turned to his Cosby Show co-stars for support and comfort amid this loss, including “on the phone with Phylicia Rashad [who played his onscreen wife Claire Huxtable] reminiscing about Malcolm” earlier on Monday.
The actor shared similar sentiments with CBS News‘ Jericka Duncan in a phone interview on Monday, noting the former TV husband and wife were “embracing each other over the phone about a dearly beloved friend.” Gushing about Malcolm, he added:
“He was never afraid to go to his room and study. He knew his lines and that he was quite comfortable even with the growing pains of a being a teenager.”
The last time they spoke was about “three months ago” and the conversation was focused on the younger performer’s Art in Motion concert with the Minnesota Orchestra, “something [Warner] was very proud of.” Hear more:
Despite Bill’s complicated legal trouble amid sexual assault accusations (and prison time), Malcolm always spoke kindly of their time on-set together and the impact their show had on the world. He was just a kid when he started on the hit comedy. How sad for those who grew up alongside him. May he rest in peace.
[Image via NBC/YouTube & Adriana M. Barraza/WENN]
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