Tracee Ellis Ross shares heartfelt Instagram post in honor of Malcolm-Jamal Warner

News of celebrities' passing will always be heartbreaking, especially when they have so much life left to live. On Monday, July 21, news broke of Malcolm-Jamal Warner's passing due to an accidental drowning, which prompted thousands of fans to share their condolences and remember the life and legacy of Warner, who grew up on our television screens. He was 54.

The actor is best known for playing Bill Cosby's only son, Theo Huxtable, on the hit '80s series The Cosby Show. He also starred alongside Tracee Ellis Ross in the BET sitcom Reed Between the Lines. The series, which has two seasons and over thirty episodes, follows a modern-day blended family as they navigate life's ups and downs with wit and humor. It centers on Dr. Carla Reed (Ross), a busy psychologist, wife, and mother struggling to balance her job and her happy but chaotic home life alongside her husband, Dr. Alex Reed (Warner), an English professor at NYU.

Ross and Warner portrayed family onscreen, but their bond extended beyond the camera. In an Instagram post, the actress affectionately referred to Warner as her "first TV husband."

"I love you, Malcolm. First I met you as Theo with the rest of the world then you were my first TV husband. My heart is so so sad. What an actor and friend you were: warm, gentle, present, kind, thoughtful, deep, funny, elegant. You made the world a brighter place. Sending so much love to your family. I'm so sorry for this unimaginable loss."