Malcolm-Jamal Warner, actor wey dey best known for im role as Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show, don die.
Warner, wey be 54, drown over di weekend while on holiday for Costa Rica, local authorities tok.
Reports say Warner bin dey dragged out to sea by ogbonge ocean current while e bin dey swim for Playa Grande around 14:00 (20:00 GMT) local time on Sunday for Cocles, wey be town for di province of Limón, Costa Rica Judicial Investigation Agency tok.
Warner play di son of Bill Cosby for di popular US sitcom from 1984-1992. Tributes don come in from celebrities, including Questlove, Jennifer Hudson, Taraji P Henson, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Magic Johnson.
Authorities say bystanders bin rescue Warner and bring am to shore, wia di Costa Rican Red Cross try to treat am, but dem declare am dead at di scene.
E dey survived by im wife and daughter.
Warner bin dey Emmy-nominated for di Outstanding Supporting Actor in a comedy series for im work on The Cosby Show for 1986.
E bin dey handpicked for im breakout role by Cosby on di final day of a nationwide audition.
“I be llike di last person dem see,” e recall for one 2023 interview.
The Cosby Show rank as di number one TV show for five seasons from 1985-90. E show one middle-class family – wey bin no dey common at di time of black Americans on television.
“Wen di show first come out, white people and black people dey talk about [how] di Huxtables no really dey exist, black people no dey really live like that,” Warner tok for one 2013 interview.
“Meanwhile, we bin dey get tens of thousands of fan letters from pipo saying, ‘Thank you so much for dis show.'”
After The Cosby Show, Warner appear for several oda television programmes including Malcom & Eddie, alongside comedian Eddie Griffin.
Griffin pay respects to am on social media after im death, writing “R.I.P. King” and “My big little brother”.
Warner get guest appearances on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Sesame Street. More recently, e play AJ Austin, wey be cardio-thoracic surgeon for di medical drama series The Resident.
Warner also win Grammy for Best Traditional R&B Performance for 2015, alongside Robert Glasper and Lalah Hathaway for dia cover of Stevie Wonder song Jesus Children of America.
Im spoken word album “Hiding In Plain View” give am anoda Grammy nomination in 2023.
Last year, e start podcast – “Not All Hood” – wey dey discuss mental health for di black community.
Former co-stars and fans don dey post dia tributes to am online.
Basketball star Magic Johnson, wey appear for AIDS awareness video directed by Warner, write say e and im wife be “both super fans of di hit Cosby Show and continue to follow im career” over di years.
“Every time I run into Malcolm, we get deep and fun conversations about basketball, life, and business. E go dey truly missed,” Johnson write.
Actress Jennifer Love Hewitt call am “a gentleman” and “an incredible talent”.
Actress Vivica A Fox post say she dey stunned and saddened by im sudden death, writing: “Thanks for ya gifts, king.”
Tracee Ellis Ross, wey act with Warner on Reed Between the Lines, also mourn im, writing: “My heart is so so sad.
“What an actor and friend you be: warm, gentle, present, kind, thoughtful, deep, funny, elegant. You make di world a brighter place.
“Sending so much love to your family. I dey so sorry for dis unimaginable loss.”
Actress Taraji P Henson posted: “Malcolm, we grow up with you. Thank you for di art, di wisdom, di grace you give us!!!!!
“You leave di world better dan you found it. Rest easy, king!!!! Your legacy live far beyond di screen.”
Actress Niecy Nash post say she recently speak to Warner.
“We talk about how happy we both dey in our marriages. Damn friend. You be di cornerstone of The Cosby Show.
“We all love Theo! Never to be forgotten. You go dey missed. Rest Easy.”
Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock also praise Warner, writing in a post: “For me and so many for my generation, Malcolm-Jamal Warner be a part of our childhood, a brother wey im character ‘Theo’ feel like one of my own.
“May God grant peace to im soul, strength and grace to im grieving family.”