Malcolm Jamal Warner has died at the age of 54 as a result of ‘accidental drowning’ while on holiday, but his story is far from the only tragedy of The Cosby Show
The Cosby Show seems to be followed by heartache after a number of tragic incidents involving the cast. Sadly, the latest was linked to Malcolm Jamal Warner, who played Theodore Huxtable across all eight seasons. He has died at the age of 54 as a “result of accidental drowning”.
However the classic sitcom, which stopped airing in 1992, has seen a number of other nightmare situations.
The show followed the Huxtables, based on stand-up routines from Bill Cosby, who played Cliff Huxtable. Despite being hugely popular at its time, it has seen re-runs pulled on a number of channels due to Bill Cosby’s sexual assault cases.
He has had accusations from more than 60 women of rape, drug-facilitated sexual assault, sexual battery, child sexual abuse and sexual harassment, which he has always denied. He was found guilty of three counts of aggravated indecent assault in a 2018 trial, but it was overruled on a retrial.
However, as Daily Star finds out, darkness appears to follow the show.
Ennis Cosby murder
Bill’s son Ennis Cosby was shot and killed in a botched robbery attempt in 1997. He had been home from college on winter break when he got a flat tire and pulled off a freeway.
He called his girlfriend Stephan Crane who arrived to see him changing the tire. A man then came to her window and said: “Open the door or I’ll hurt you.”
Scared, she drove a short distance up the road when she heard a gunshot.
Mikhail “Michael” Markhasev, an 18-year-old from Ukraine, was convicted for the murder and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.
He apologised in a letter from prison in 2001, saying: “I am guilty and I want to do the right thing … More than anything, I want to apologise to the victim’s family. It is my duty as a Christian, and it’s the least I can do, after the great wickedness for which I am responsible.”
Michelle Thomas cancer death
Michelle Thomas played Theo Huxtable’s girlfriend Justine Phillips on the show – and she went on to date Malcolm Jamal Warner for six years in real life, until they amicably split in 1994.
Sadly, she was diagnosed with a rare form of stomach cancer in 1997. She was expected to make a full recovery after a tumour the size of a lemon was removed from her abdomen.
Unfortunately, a second cancerous growth ruptured and she needed emergency surgery. She died at the age of 30 on December 23, 1998.
Malcolm had been by her side in her final days, with Michelle’s mother saying he had been the love of Michelle’s life.
Geoffrey Owens’ new job
Back in 2018, a photo emerged of Elvin Tibideaux star Geoffrey Owens working at a Trader Joe’s in New Jersey. He took the job after being unable to support himself on his acting.
He later quit, saying: “I wasn’t going to be able to handle that scrutiny, that kind of attack on my privacy. But Trader Joe’s was a wonderful job.”
Geoffrey explained that his residual cheques from The Cosby Show had run out – and even then they weren’t that good as he hadn’t appeared in too many episodes.
Luckily, his fortune began to change and he has had steady acting work since, including major shows such as Power, New Amsterdam, and, this year, the Netflix series The Night Agent.
Malcolm Jamal Warner’s ‘accidental drowning’
Sadly, Malcolm Jamal Warner is the latest person the apparent curse has touched.
He died while on holiday in Costa Rica with his wife and daughter. He died on July 20 from asphyxia after he got caught by a high current while swimming and drowned.
On July 21 reports of his death as a “result of an accidental drowning” emerged.
He previously said: “I’ve had such an awesome life. I’ve got my ups and downs and all of that, but if I die tomorrow, I know I would go with a smile on my face.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
