Adam Sandler has spoken out about the tragic death of Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who died in a drowning accident at age 54. The two actors worked together as teenagers on The Cosby Show, where they formed a close friendship that lasted for years.
According to People, Warner, best known for playing Theodore Huxtable on the hit sitcom, passed away in what has been described as a devastating loss to the entertainment industry. The actor starred on The Cosby Show from 1984 to 1992, playing the son of Bill Cosby’s character Cliff Huxtable.
Speaking at the Happy Gilmore 2 New York premiere on Monday, July 21, Sandler expressed his shock at the news. “I can’t believe it,” the 58-year-old actor said when asked about Warner’s death. Sandler, who played the role of Smitty alongside Warner’s character, shared fond memories of their time working together on the show.
Sandler recalls teenage friendship and Warner’s kindness on set
The Happy Gilmore star opened up about the close bond he shared with Warner during their teenage years on The Cosby Show. Sandler remembered how Warner treated him with kindness when they worked together, despite both being young actors navigating the entertainment industry.
I never knew this is where Adam Sandler got started!
— Kanye Wet (@BabyDadYE) July 22, 2025today has just been so heartbreaking RIP to Malcolm-Jamal Warner
“Malcolm was so nice to me when I was on the show and we had such good times together,” Sandler said during the interview with Entertainment Tonight. He recalled that he was probably 18 years old at the time, while Warner was around 16 or 17 years old when they starred together.
The two young actors spent significant time together outside of filming, according to Sandler’s memories. “We would take walks together, all of us and pick up food, talk, play basketball, hang out on the weekends, and go to parties together,” he shared. Sandler also praised Warner’s family, particularly his mother, saying, “He was so good to me as a person, and his mom was amazing.” The actor described Warner as a “true great person, hilarious, smart kid, and meant a lot to America,” highlighting the impact the young actor had both personally and professionally. Sandler concluded his tribute by expressing his condolences to Warner’s surviving family members, saying “Absolute great man, I’m so sorry to his wife and his child too.”
