Malcolm-Jamal Warner reflected on legacy in final interview before death

Malcolm-Jamal Warner reflected on the legacy he hoped to leave behind in his final interview, just two months before his tragic death.

Warner, who died on Sunday at the age of 54, appeared on the May 21 episode of the “Hot & Bothered with Melyssa Ford” podcast, where he admitted that he thought about his legacy “a lot.”

At the time of his death, Warner was vacationing with family in Costa Rica, where he drowned while swimming. His cause of death was ruled as asphyxiation by “submersion.”

Costa Rican National Police told The Post that he was pulled from the water by bystanders and taken to shore but was “declared lifeless at the scene,” according to the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ).

Though he found the idea of legacy difficult to answer, Warner admitted during the podcast that “The Cosby Show” would likely be what people remember him for most.

“I remember my mother said to me one time that ‘Mr. [Bill] Cosby gave you immortality,’” he recalled. “So I know on one lane, there’s legacy there… Those former years were always about life beyond ‘Cosby.’”

Warner rose to fame playing Theodore “Theo” Huxtable, the son of Bill Cosby’s Cliff Huxtable, in the NBC sitcom from 1984 to 1992.

The role earned him a 1986 Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.

“I feel like, OK, there’s that legacy there, but then, because I’ve had this full life after that show, there’s another lane of legacy that I get to leave,” Warner explained. “And I’m still working through that.”

In April 2021, Warner exclusively spoke to The Post about “The Cosby Show” in the wake of Bill Cosby’s sexual assault conviction that was later overturned.

“I can understand why some people can’t watch the show and enjoy it because of everything that’s going on now,” he told The Post. “But I think… there’s a generation of young people who have pursued higher education or have started loving families because of the influence of that show.”

Warner added, “It’s kind of like, you can’t discount its impact on television and American culture.”

After “The Cosby Show,” Warner starred in the UPN sitcom “Malcolm & Eddie” alongside Eddie Griffin from 1996 to 2000, as well as the BET sitcom “Reed Between the Lines” alongside Tracee Ellis Ross from 2011 to 2015.

From 2018 to 2023, Warner portrayed Dr. AJ Austin in Fox’s “The Resident.” His other notable acting credits included “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” “American Crime Story,” “Suits” and “9-1-1.”

Outside of acting, however, Warner said that he wanted to be remembered for being “a good person.”

“There is part of me that I will be able to leave this earth knowing — and people knowing — that I was a good person,” he shared.

Warner recalled that his father often told him that people love him because of his career and success. But, Warner added, what made his father the most proud was that his son was a decent human being.

“I’m a good person because my dad’s a good person,” he continued. “It is possible to walk through this world — and with all of the darkness in the world — it is possible to maintain your soul and be a good person.”

In the wake of his death, Ford took to Instagram to share a tribute to Warner.

“I am devastated. Words cannot convey my shock and sadness at the loss of such an incredible HUMAN,” she captioned a carousel of behind-the-scenes photos from Warner’s appearance on her podcast. “Malcolm-Jamal Warner didn’t feel comfortable with the designation of the label of ICON, but that’s what he was to so many of us.”

Ford added, “Besides being an accomplished actor, poet, [and] musician, his most cherished role was Father and Husband. I am so heartbroken for his family that he worked so hard to protect from the glaring lights of fame. May they find comfort in the knowledge that his faith was strong, but his love for them defined him.”

Warner is survived by his wife and daughter, both of whom he chose to keep private.

“Rest Easy, King,” Ford concluded.