For legions of fans, Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s death in a drowning accident in Costa Rica felt like a loss in the family.
That’s because for the generation that grew up with him in the 1980s and early 90s, (and many more after that thanks to repeats and syndication) he was America’s brother and son, beloved as Theodore Huxtable on “The Cosby Show.”
For many girls, Theo was our first crush, the boyfriend we wanted to have one day. Many boys wanted to be Theo, or maybe have a friend like him.
First appearing in the role when he was 14, Warner came to represent an example of young Black males in America in the 1980s.
The ’80s was a decade that grappled seriously with images of Black men, who were often portrayed in negative stereotypes. But Warner’s Theo was different. He was accessible, likeable, honest, earnest.
He was loving, could be boastful, and while hardworking liked shortcuts. Theo was flawed and funny, someone easy to relate to.
While best known for his role on “The Cosby Show,” which ran from 1984 to 1992, Warner went on to have a successful career as an adult, appearing in shows such as “The Resident,” “Major Crimes,” and “Ten Days In The Valley.” He was also a director of TV’s “All That” and “Malcolm & Eddie,” and was a Grammy-award winning musician, poet, and podcaster.
In 2014, Warner played the role made famous by Sidney Poitier in the film “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner,” when it was adapted for the stage by Boston’s Huntington Theatre Company.
Most recently as host of the podcast NAH (Not All Hood), he and cohosts Candace O. Kelley and Weusi Baraka had serious discussions about the experiences and identities of Blacks in America. While Warner became a household name at a young age, he never stopped evolving as an artist.
As an entertainment journalist, I had the opportunity to interview Warner three times over the years. In each of our discussions, he was friendly, honest and incredibly humble. Chatting with him felt like reconnecting with an old friend. And as much as I thought I knew about him, each time we spoke I always discovered something new, like when he told me his dad named him Malcolm after civil rights leader Malcolm X.
Warner also told me part of building his post-Cosby career was exploring all facets of himself as an individual and an artist, which led to his work as a director and musician.
“Directing was a hobby that turned into a career. And music really allowed me to find another way to express myself,” Warner said. “I started playing bass in November 1996 and by June 1998 I was doing my first live show.”
Speaking of music, we shared how much we loved Michael Jackson’s “Off The Wall” album. After becoming a musician, Warner told me he rediscovered each song from that album with “different” ears.
He once told me the legacy of “The Cosby Show” meant a lot to him.
“It’s definitely a show that I’m proud of and am proud to have been a part of. It’s a show that changed television,” Warner said. “It changed the way Black America, white America, and the world looked at Black people.”
We also chatted about his latest projects and who he was seeing romantically — because folks wanted to know. Warner dated a few famous actresses, including Karin Malina White, Michelle Thomas, whom he cared for until her death from cancer in 1998, and Regina King.
In 2017, he quietly got married, but kept the identity of his wife and their now 8-year old daughter private.
When you make a living interviewing famous people, you’re sometimes disappointed when you meet them and they’re not who you thought they might be.
But as a man and professional, Warner was as wonderful as I expected. Even more terrific than Theo.
For the generations that don’t have a strong connection to Warner’s work, his greatest legacy may be the young black male actors and entertainers who came after him, from Jaleel White in “Family Matters,” Tyler James Williams in “Everybody Hates Chris,“ and former Nickelodeon stars Keenan (Thompson) and Kel (Mitchell).
Warner’s success made it possible for someone like Nick Cannon of “The Masked Singer” fame to transition from a young TV and film idol into a broadcast mogul.
Because Warner stayed so busy creatively, I always thought I might get the opportunity to interview him again for a future project. And, although that wasn’t meant to be, I’m honored that I got the opportunity to share my recollections of him.
Reflecting on his passing over the last 24 hours, I kept thinking about what Warner’s legacy meant for my generation, the generation that grew up with him. And I know we were extremely lucky to be able to bear witness to his amazing talents. He also left us a trove of other work that can still be uncovered. So not only can you stream “The Cosby Show” episodes that you know all the dialogue to, but you can also watch Malcolm in “9-1-1″ or “Sons of Anarchy” or “Sneaky Pete”, listen to his music, poetry and take in his podcast.
Warner’s loss is tremendous and he will be missed deeply. But thanks to his artistry, he won’t ever be forgotten.
Ronke Idowu Reeves is the Globe’s SEO Editor. For over 20 years she worked as an entertainment writer and reporter for PEOPLE, BET, VH1, The Sundance Film Festival and Tribeca Festival. She is a contributor to the books “Oprah: A Celebration at 70” and PEOPLE Books: Special Edition Barbie.”