Malcolm-Jamal Warner Was Best Known For The Cosby Show, But I Want To Talk About Some Of His Other Great Performances

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I’ve long admired the acting skills of Malcolm-Jamal Warner, so his unexpected death at 54 due to a drowning incident left me both stunned and saddened. Much like many others, I first came across him through his Emmy-nominated portrayal as Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show. However, his performance in that role is not the only one I recognize; he has a wider body of work that I appreciate as well.

Apart from enjoying repeats of the beloved TV sitcom on Nick at Nite, Warner was an actor I never failed to watch for, and was pleasantly surprised to see appearing in various roles that showcased his remarkable versatility. I thought it would be fitting to reminisce about some of the lesser-known Malcolm-Jamal Warner performances that left me thinking, “Wow, Theo has talent,” and will leave me pining for him for years to come.

He Proved Himself As A Great Sitcom Lead In Malcolm & Eddie

A couple of years post my stint on “The Cosby Show,” I found myself stepping into the limelight of a TV comedy, partnered with the hilarious Eddie Griffin, in the show titled “Malcolm & Eddie.” Airing from 1996 to 2000, this sitcom could be seen as the offspring of “The Odd Couple” and a more mature version of “Kenan & Kel.” The series chronicled the humorous mishaps of two mismatched roommates and business partners, Malcolm and Eddie, navigating their way through life.

I also enjoyed watching another sitcom by Warner on reruns, mainly because I didn’t have UPN when it was airing, and I appreciated his comedic chemistry with Griffin, where he played the more serious character to Griffin’s goofier one. It came as a shock to me when I learned from DCP Entertainment’s interview that they had tension off-screen. Thankfully, their relationship improved over time, as evidenced by Griffin’s touching tribute to Warner in Variety.

He Proved His Dramatic Chops On The Dystopian Thriller Jeremiah

A few years following the termination of “Malcolm & Eddie,” Warner seized an opportunity to demonstrate his abilities extended beyond comedic series, with a role in a more serious production titled “Jeremiah.” This short-lived dystopian sci-fi drama, broadcast on Showtime for two seasons, featured Luke Perry, another untimely loss, as the titular character. Jeremiah embarks on a journey to locate a mythical haven in a world decimated by a lethal virus that only pre-pubescent individuals could survive.

In other words, I recently watched this show in reruns (since I didn’t have the original channel) and decided to tune in due to Warner’s presence. To be honest, he delivered an outstanding performance as Kurdy, a wise and honorable warrior who travels alongside Jeremiah. This character makes me eager to rewatch the series using my Amazon Prime membership soon.

He Made The Short-Lived Sitcom Listen Up Worth Sticking Around For

In his subsequent work, Warner shifted back to the realm of sitcoms, partnering with Jason Alexander, a previous cast member from Seinfeld. The George Costanza portrayer’s second foray into leading his own comedy after the NBC series concluded was titled Listen Up, where he played Tony Kleinman, a sports commentator and family man.

In its initial run on CBS, I happened to be one of the fortunate viewers who watched “Seinfeld,” a series that I’ve always held dear, particularly George Costanza’s iconic moments. However, it was Warner who consistently drew me back to the show. He perfectly embodied the scene-stealing role of Tony’s co-host and best friend, Bernie Widmer. In amusing ways, he often outshone the characters on screen with his antics.

He Left A Memorable Mark On Community

Among the lesser-known guest stars from the show “Community,” Malcolm-Jamal Warner is definitely not one to forget. In my opinion, his performance on the unconventional NBC sitcom stands out as particularly unforgettable.

In four episodes, Andre (played by Warner), Shirley Bennett’s (Yvette Nicole Brown) former husband, made an appearance. Despite having a short screen time, Warner’s undeniable charisma filled the gap. A particularly touching moment was when he proposed to Shirley for a second time, accompanied by a dance group performing a Boyz II Men song, creating one of the show’s most heartwarming scenes, even though their second marriage ultimately didn’t last.

He Gave An Arresting Performance On Accused

One reason I started tuning into Fox’s remake of a British series featuring various tales about ordinary people dealing with complex legal issues was recognizing that Warner was part of the original cast. Specifically, I would describe his episode titled “Kendall’s Story” as one of the standout episodes from this anthology TV series.

In this powerful narrative, Warner delivers a heart-wrenching portrayal as a father and husband pushed by his peers into taking drastic action after his little girl is violated. This gripping tale offers a chilling depiction of a man pushed to extremes by an atrocity that may well be his most impactful dramatic performance yet.

He Owned One Of The Best Key & Peele Cameos

The show “Key & Peele” is highly praised not just for the side-splitting skits by Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, but also for its outstanding guest performances. In my opinion, Warner truly deserves to be included among these stellar appearances.

In simpler terms, during a comedy sketch at a gathering for Tallahassee Black Republicans, it’s shown that this group is not very diverse in terms of their personalities or clothing choices. A character named Arthur Washington, played by Warner, is introduced as an expert on diversity among Black conservatives, but he doesn’t add anything new to the conversation; instead, he repeats what Key and Peele’s characters had already said. However, despite this, Warner manages to make his performance unique with some special quirks that make it one of the most memorable and hilarious cameos in Key & Peele’s work.

Some roles performed by Malcolm-Jamal Warner beyond “The Cosby Show” have won me over as a fan, and I can’t wait for even more great performances from this talented actor.

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2025-07-23 21:08