On July 20, 2025, tragedy struck the sitcom world when “The Cosby Show” alum Malcolm-Jamal Warner died as a result of an accidental drowning at the age of 54. The Hollywood sphere has expressed heartbreak in light of Warner’s unexpected death, with fans mourning the actor’s loss on social media as well. One prime example of this is the comment section on Warner’s final Instagram post.
Social media is an interesting thing, as someone’s profile often remains as a time capsule of sorts, even after they’ve passed away. That makes it especially sad when it’s clear their life was cut short. Take, for instance, the late Anne Burrell’s seemingly innocuous selfie that would prove to be her last. Similarly, Warner’s final appearances on social media indicate that he himself was still working hard and still had much to do. In fact, his actual last Instagram post was made to promote the latest edition of the actor’s “Not All Hood” podcast.
With the post being made just a few days before Warner’s death was confirmed, the comment section can be seen sharing a mix of grief, disbelief, and reverence. “We all grew up watching you and resonated with you. Thank you & Rest Peacefully King,” one commenter wrote. “…is it real…? How..? Why?” another added. One Instagram user even explained just how far Warner’s cultural reach went. “I’m just some random German guy and he was even in our childhood home. You were everywhere and made us laugh,” he commented.
Malcolm-Jamal Warner was still using his online platform for good
Another example of the fact that Malcolm-Jamal Warner was still dedicated to doing good work at the time of his passing can be found in his second-to-last Instagram post. A few weeks before his death, Warner shared a video in support of Be Love Day, an annual celebration held by The King Center, the nonprofit organization originally founded by Coretta Scott King, wife of Martin Luther King, Jr. and mother of the civil rights leader’s four children. According to the organization’s website, Be Love is “a growing movement of courageous acts to achieve justice.”
In his post raising awareness for Be Love Day, Warner wrote, “Our World House needs for us to BE LOVE. Our collective holistic health depends on it.” Once again, however, the comment section is now full of people paying respects in light of the recent news. One commenter, in particular, not only paid tribute to Warner, but also offered their condolences to those the actor has sadly left behind. “I wanna send my condolences to his mom, Mrs. Pamela Warner, and his dad Mr. Robert Warner. This one hurts. I grew up on ‘The Cosby Show.’ It’s like personally losing an extended family member, a brother. What an exceptional man and an exceptional loss,” they wrote. To that end, it seems that Warner’s final posts stand as a testament to why he was so beloved, even beyond his work on television, and why his death was such an unexpected tragedy.