Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty; Santiago Felipe/Getty Malcolm-Jamal Warneris being remembered by the man who once played his onscreen father,Bill Cosby. After news broke that Warnerdied at age 54 on Sunday, July 20, while on a family vacation in Costa Rica, Andrew Wyatt, a spokesperson for Cosby, 88, tells PEOPLE that his death "reminded him of the same call he received when his son died." Ennis William Cosby, the actor's only son,was murdered in 1997. He was shot to death at age 27 during an attempted robbery on a Los Angeles freeway ramp as he tried to change a flat tire. Warner, meanwhile, drowned while swimming, a source confirmed to PEOPLE. The Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) later said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE that they "removed the body of a man who apparentlydied as a result of asphyxiation by submersion," whom they later identified as Warner. Paras Griffin/Getty The statement said that based on preliminary information, "the victim appears to haveentered the sea and was apparently swept away by a current. The man was rescued by bystanders and taken to shore, where he received treatment from the Costa Rican Red Cross. However, he was declared lifeless at the scene." Wyatt tells PEOPLE that Cosby's son "played with Malcolm," calling the events that unfolded on July 20 "devastating." "He found a way to talk about Malcolm even though he was sad," Wyatt says of Cosby. NBCU Photo Bank via Getty "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,'" Wyatt adds. Wyatt also notes that Cosby was finding comfort in hisCosby Showcostars. He says the actor was "on the phone withPhylicia Rashad[who played his onscreen wife Claire Huxtable] reminiscing about Malcolm" earlier today. Whilespeaking with PEOPLE in February 2023, Warner acknowledged how Cosby's legal woes have changed the way some fans remember the show. Cosby was sentenced tothree to 10 years in prisonin 2018 for charges involving drugging and sexually assaulting another woman. Pennsylvania's Supreme Courtoverturned his sexual assault convictionin 2021, allowing Cosby to be released. Five more women, however,sued Cosby for sexual assault in December. Cosby's defense has denied all allegations made against him. "Regardless of how some people may feel about the show now, I'm still proud of the legacy and having been a part of such an iconic show that had such a profound impact on — first and foremost, Black culture — but also American culture," Warner told PEOPLE. NBCU Photo Bank via Getty In an interview with journalist Jemele Hill in 2023, Warner speculated that his fellow cast members might be "making a killing" today, if it weren't for the allegations against Cosby. Acknowledging a recent uptick in show reboots,Warner said, "We could have made a lot of money.Fuller House,they're doing their thing.The Conners, man, we'd be making a killing right now." Asked by Hill if he was "resentful" because "one person impacted you guys' lives and the way this show was seen," Warner responded: "No. Not resentment ... I get how this business works, for one. And just that whole situation is so layered, man." "I can't defend him or his actions at all. But I also can't throw him under the bus completely," Warner added. "Because I have an understanding of all the layers. It's so complex and it's so many shades of gray, that most people will never get. There is the piece of the financial hit that we all took but also it hasn't really affected my career." Warneralso reflected on Cosby's work ethicas recently as May 2025, during an appearance on Melyssa Ford'sHot & Botheredpodcast. During the episode, Warner said of Cosby: "He would work Monday through Thursday on the show, hop on a plane and do stand-up Thursday, Friday, Saturday nights, then be back to work first thing Monday." "This is while having the number one show in the world. And I watched that and it made me understand — when you are hot, that's when you grind," he added. Read the original article onPeople
