When does a character die at the end of a movie or a show? For me, I think a character dies when the actor who breathed life into them does Malcolm Jamal Warner, best known for his signature role as Theo Huxtable on the Cosby Show, died Sunday in Costa Rica after drowning, while swimming with his family.
Theo was the teenager we were, or in my case, wanted to be, messed up sometimes, but always tried smart in his own way. A son and brother and a loving family loved, even when he didn't quite know how to show it or what to do with it.
I often think about actors like Warner. After the show, his career kept going, but every time I saw his face, I saw Theo down to his last Instagram post. That's what great sitcoms do, what great media does, it gives us characters that we feel like we know in shadows, that those actors rarely escape.
So, rest in peace, Theo.
And rest in peace. Malcolm.
Malcolm, Jamal Warner was 54.
On that note, I'm James A. Brown, and as always be well.
Share this post