Hollywood is reeling after the sudden loss of beloved actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner. On July 21, 2025, news broke that “The Cosby Show” alum had died while vacationing in Costa Rica. Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos are reflecting on a heartbreaking loss.
(Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Family Equality)Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos attend Family Equality’s Night at the Pier at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers on May 12, 2025, in New York City.
During a recent episode of “Live with Kelly and Mark“, the couple paid an emotional tribute to Malcolm-Jamal Warner. The couple honored his life and legacy with heartfelt words following news of his sudden passing.

Kelly Ripa Reflects on the Loss of Malcolm-Jamal Warner On Air

(Photo by Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post via Getty Images)Malcolm-Jamal Warner stars in the production of “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” at the Arena Stage.
During “Live with Kelly and Mark”, Kelly Ripa spoke candidly about the emotional impact of Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s sudden passing. She reflected on growing up watching him on television, sharing that they were the same age and he was a major presence on screen throughout her youth. Ripa said his death felt intensely personal, even though she never knew him, as if a piece of everyone’s childhood was lost.

When Did Malcolm-Jamal Warner Pass Away?

Leon Bennett/Getty Images for The Recording AcademyMalcolm-Jamal Warner speaking into microphone.
Malcolm-Jamal Warner tragically drowned on July 20, 2025, while visiting Cocles Beach in Limón, Costa Rica. The Costa Rican National Police confirmed the heartbreaking news to ABC the following day.

According to the country’s Judicial Investigation Department, the incident occurred between 2:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. in the Playa Grande area of Puerto Viejo de Limón.

Authorities confirmed Warner’s cause of death as asphyxia—a condition that occurs when the body is deprived of oxygen. The Cleveland Clinic defines asphyxia as a serious medical emergency that can result from drowning, suffocation, or other oxygen-restrictive conditions.

Family Warner Left Behind

Paras Griffin/Getty ImagesMalcolm-Jamal Warner smiling
Though he kept his family life intensely private, Warner gave a rare and heartfelt glimpse into his marriage during a June 2025 episode of the Hot & Bothered podcast. He never publicly shared his wife’s name, but he did open up about the connection they formed early on.

He recalled being honest and transparent from the very beginning. Their first date, set up by a mutual friend, marked a turning point for Warner, who initially believed he wasn’t meant for marriage or fatherhood.

Just a few months later, his perspective shifted. “At some point during this time, if I’m going to have a kid, this is the person I would like to have it with,” he said on the podcast.

He never looked back. Warner described the relationship as one he never second-guessed, and together they welcomed a daughter. Warner kept their identities out of the public eye, in keeping with their private approach to family. He is also survived by his mother.