But ultimately, it was his iconic presence in The Cosby Show’s eight-year run that earned him an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 1986. And the New Jersey native has since made it clear that he would always be grateful for the way the show impacted his life.
“People kind of have a misconception, because when someone calls me Theo and I correct them and say, no, my name is Malcolm, they think I have an attitude about it,” he told NPR in 2014“and I don’t want to be associated with the show. It’s like, no. I will forever be associated with that show, but my name is Malcolm.”
Beyond his lasting work onscreen, Warner’s love for acting extended to theater as well.
“I love the character development process,” he gushed at the time. “When you’re working on television and film, you don’t really have time. Rehearsal is a luxury. In theater, rehearsal is a necessity. I just thought of that. That’s probably the most concise way I could put it.”