The world is honoring Malcolm-Jamal Warner for his impact in helping shift culture on American television. In Boston, he’s being remembered as a role model who was generous with his time in programs at Berklee College of Music.
Warner was an iconic figure on the 1980s cultural phenomenon “The Cosby Show” as Theo Huxtable. The world is mourning the actor who tragically drowned in Costa Rica on a family vacation. Investigators say a strong current pulled the 54-year-old into deep water.
“There’s a duality in the loss right. I think prior to being able to be in his presence and have him be what I consider a brother; Theo was everybody’s brother,” said Misael Martinez Assistant Vice President, Social Entrepreneurship and Creative Youth Development at Berklee.
Close connection to Berklee
Beyond the screen, Warner had a special and close connection to Berklee College of Music, especially with the Berklee City Music students.
In 2023, as a special guest and emcee, Warner helped raise more than a million dollars for scholarships for the underserved youth to develop musically, academically, socially, and emotionally.
Few knew that Warner was an avid and passionate bass player, and he worked closely with Martinez at the college.
In 2015, Warner received a Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance for the song “Jesus Children” alongside Robert Glasper Experiment and Lalah Hathaway.
“I think that his humanity is his real legacy the way that he lived and treated people every day,” said Martinez. “He was just the most caring and beautiful person when he came into the office and the campus, the way that he treated everyone with equity, love and respect, and he always yearned to learn more.”
“He was a trailblazer”
In 2014, he was praised for his performance of the Huntington Theatre’s production of “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” – a classic film tackling interracial marriage.
Martinez reflected on the impact of Warner’s many roles.
“It actually framed a narrative that hadn’t been said for a long time, and it allowed people to see themselves in a way that wasn’t always depicted in television, so I think in that way he was a trailblazer,” said Martinez.
A trailblazer and devoted family man, who leaves behind his wife and daughter.
“You think, ‘oh my God’ he’s no longer here, but then most importantly you go back to the humanity, the impact of how fragile life is,” Martinez said.
Tammy MutasaTammy Mutasa joined WBZ-TV as a multi-skilled journalist in January 2023.
