When TV Stars Feel Like Family :: Remembering Malcolm-Jamal Warner
Picture this: It’s 2002, it’s the weekend, and I’m at my grandma’s house hanging out on the couch. She stays in a retirement home so there isn’t much to do outside of the apartment besides go down to the lobby and play dominoes with the ol’ folk. So, I resort to putting on the television. Back then, we had to turn to the TV Guide channel and wait for the scrolling of show listings to make their rounds in a loop. Anytime I saw “The Cosby Show” pop up, THAT was the channel I was turning to.
The Huxtables were many people’s extended family, and for some, immediate. The representation of an African American family led by a successful lawyer and doctor wasn’t something you saw everyday, especially on TV. Cliff, Claire, Sondra, Denise, Theo, Vanessa, and Rudy became part of our lives and etched many memorable moments into our minds. It’s no wonder when the world gets the news that one of them has passed on, we’re devasted … at least I am.
My husband sent me the text. It was a social media post stating that Malcolm-Jamal Warner (MJW), better known as Theodore aka Theo, had died unexpectedly at the age of 54. He was vacationing in Costa Rica with his family when an ocean current pulled him away from land, tragically ending his life. Many celebrities and common folk alike took the news hard.
This got me wondering … “Why do we mourn those we do not know personally, especially celebrities?” My thought is that watching sitcoms from back in the day is like following people on social media today. You feel as if you’re a part of their lives. Of course MJW has had many other prominent roles and depending on your age, one might resonate more with certain stages in your life. But Theo felt like a big brother to me. There are soooo many scenes from The Cosby Show that I could recite without thinking. Reminiscing on the show takes me back to those days sitting on my late grandma’s couch and enjoying the weekend with her. Core memories I don’t want to forget.
To top it off, there have been a plethora of co-stars, friends, and fans commenting on how good of a person he was outside of his profession. He really seemed to be a stand up guy. One social media post says “Malcolm-Jamal Warner a face we grew up with, a voice of calm, and a man who carried himself with grace and dignity…” This loss reminds me of Chadwick Bowman. Different circumstances but still a sudden loss and nothing but good said after the transition from flesh to spirit.
As a millennial, I feel like we had one of the best runs with sitcoms. Even though The Cosby Show ran from 1984-1992, I’m glad to say I had the privilege to watch binge watch the old school way. From Theo the character to Malcom-Jamal the man, he will be dearly missed.
Just in case you’re wondering, here are just some of the other prominent roles Malcolm-Jamal Warner has embodied:
- Malcolm and Eddie
- The Resident
- Reed Between the Lines
- Suits
Besides being an actor and a sweet soul, he was also a Grammy-award winning musician, a poet, and a director. May his family and friends honor his legacy in the best way while those of us who know him from afar keep his memory alive through the big screen.
Rest in peace, Malcolm.
