'The Cosby Show' actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner's cause of death released by police
Malcolm-Jamal Warner's cause of death has been released by police.
The actor, who is best known for his role as Theo Huxtable in the hit TV sitcom "The Cosby Show," died on Sunday off the coast of Costa Rica after a drowning, Costa Rican National Police told ABC News. He was 54.
Warner was swimming with his 8-year-old daughter on Sunday when surfers spotted them struggling and dove in to help, police confirmed to ABC News.
A surfer used his board to bring Warner's daughter to safety and a volunteer lifeguard pulled Warner and another surfer to shore, where warner was given 45 minutes of CPR, according to police.
Police told ABC News on Tuesday that an autopsy on Warner has been completed. The Forensic Pathology Department said that the autopsy confirmed that Warner's death, which was described as asphyxiation by submersion, was accidental.
Both surfers survived, police said.
Warner's body arrived in San Joaquin de Flores on Monday at 4:30 p.m. local time. An autopsy was performed and completed on Tuesday.
Police told ABC News that Warner died near Cocles, a beach in Limon, Costa Rica, after getting caught by a rip current Sunday afternoon, police said. Bystanders rescued him and took him to shore, where he received treatment before being declared dead by the Costa Rican Red Cross, police said.
Warner was formally identified by Costa Rica's national police, which described him as a tourist.
Along with "The Cosby Show," Warner was known for his many roles across television. He starred in "Malcolm & Eddie," "Reed Between the Lines," "Suits," "The Resident" and more.
Following the news of his death, many across Hollywood paid tribute to Warner, including Tracee Ellis Ross, Angela Bassett, Niecy Nash and Danny Tamberelli.
