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Theo Huxtable
Background:
Caught by the acting bug at age 9, Malcolm-Jamal Warner garnered
international recognition while portraying Bill Cosby's television
son, Theodore 'Theo' Huxtable, on the hit NBC sitcom “The Cosby
Show” (1984-1992). Afterwards, he went on to star in the UPN
sitcom "Malcolm and Eddie" (1996-2000; as the responsible
and sensible twenty-something Malcolm McGee), Showtime
post-apocalyptic series "Jeremiah" (2002-2004; as Luke
Perry's Jeremiah's partner Kurdy), and short-lived CBS sitcom "Listen
Up" (2004-2005; as Bernie Widmer).
Meanwhile, moviegoers could catch him in the films "Drop
Zone" (1994; starring Wesley Snipes) and "Restaurant"
(1998; with Adrien Brody and Elise Neal), as well as the upcoming
"Fool's Gold" (2008; alongside Matthew McConaughey and Kate
Hudson), in which he will play a gangsta rapper's Rastafarian
henchman named Cordell.
On stage, Warner made his off-Broadway debut in "Three Ways
Home" in 1988. He also appeared in the plays "Babes,"
portraying Lolo Lamont Leonard Lawrence Liston Jr., and "Alice
is That You?," taking the role of the Tin Man.
Warner also occasionally worked behind the camera. He has directed
episodes of “The Cosby Show,” “Malcolm and Eddie,”
“Keenan and Kel,” “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,”
“All That” and “Sesame Street.” He also
helmed a short film, “This Old Man,” and the video “Time
Out: The Truth about HIV, AIDS and YOU,” which earned him an
NAACP Key of Life Image Award.
In addition to his television and film works, Warner has branched
out in music and now fronts the LA jazz-funk band “Miles Long,”
which plays under his own label, Wonder Factory. In 2003. He
displayed his musical chops by releasing his debut EP, "The
Miles Long Mixtape," and followed it up in 2007 with his
sophomore CD entitled "Love & Other Social Issues."
On a more personal note, the 5' 11" actor/director/musician
dated "Family Matters" (1989) actress Michelle Thomas from
1988 to 1994 and reportedly was at her bedside when she died of
cancer in December 1998 at age 30. Warner is currently married to
actress Karen Malina White, who played Charmaine Brown on “The
Cosby Show” and “A Different World.” He released an
autobiography, "Theo and Me," in 1988.
Jersey-Born, California-Raised
Childhood and Family:
In Jersey City, New Jersey, Malcolm-Jamal Warner was born on
August 18, 1970, to Robert and Pam Warner. After his parents' divorce
in 1972, Malcolm was raised in Southern California by her mother who
would later also become his manager. He is maternal grandson of James
and Thelma Mcgee and paternal grandson of Alpha Kate Warner.
Malcolm attended Agelus Mesa Elementary School and Professional
Children's School, New York, New York, where he graduated in 1988. He
also took Film as a major in New York University, New York, New York,
and studied with Gary Veney at an acting class in Inglewood,
California.
Named after Malcolm X and legendary jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal,
Malcolm, whose favorite rock group is Bryce Canyon National Park in
Utah, now fronts and plays upright bass in the jazz front band “Miles
Long,” which records under his own label, the Wonder Factory.
In 1988, he released an autobiography, "Theo and Me."
Malcolm, who once dated actress Michelle Thomas (Malcolm
reportedly was at Michelle's bedside during her passing from stomach
cancer on December 22, 1998), is currently married to actress Karen
Malina White, who played Charmaine Brown on “The Cosby Show”
and “A Different World.”
He now lives in Los Angeles and enjoys playing basketball and
participates in live poetry readings in his free time.
The Cosby Show
Career:
Showing an interest in the show business at age 9, Malcolm-Jamal
Warner was enrolled in acting schools and landed role of Bill Cosby's
son Theodore 'Theo' Huxtable on the last day of a nationwide talent
search. He played the character on the highly popular NBC sitcom "The
Cosby Show" from 1984 to 1992 and received an Emmy nomination
for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for the 1985-1986
season.
Warner also won three Young Artist Awards, two for Best Young
Actor Supporting Role in a Television Series (1985 and 1990), and one
for Best Young Actor/Actress Ensemble in a Television Comedy, Drama
Series or Special (1989). Additionally, he was nominated Young Artist
Award's Best Young Male Superstar in Television in 1984 and TV Land
Awards' Favorite Singing Siblings which he shared with Sabrina Le
Beauf, Lisa Bonet, Tempestt Bledsoe, and Keshia Knight Pulliam.
Warner, who used his 6th grade school picture as his headshot for the
show was also ranked #32 in VH1's list of the "100 Greatest Kid
Stars."
Meanwhile, Warner became a grand Marshall in a Pittsburgh parade
in 1985 and hosted "CBS Storybreak" in that same year. He
had a lead role in "A Desperate Exit", a 1986 "ABC
Afterschool Special," and made TV-movie acting debut in the NBC
biopic "The Father Clemens Story" (1987). He also appeared
in Whodini's music video for "Funky Beat" (1986) and
appeared in Michael Jackson's "Liberian Girl" (1987) music
video, as well as released an autobiography, "Theo and Me,"
in 1988.
On stage, Warner made his off-Broadway debut in "Three Ways
Home" in 1988. He would later appear in the plays "Babes,"
portraying Lolo Lamont Leonard Lawrence Liston Jr., and "Alice
is That You?," taking the role of the Tin Man.
During a hiatus from the sitcom in 1989, Warner stepped behind the
cameras to helm a music video for the group “New Edition.”
In the following year, he directed the first of four episodes of "The
Cosby Show."
In the early 1990s, Warner appeared in the print ad for Kool Aid,
directed the short film "This Old Man ..." (1991), and
executive-produced, directed and hosted "The Last Laugh:
Memories of the Cosby Show" (1992). After playing Alexander
James on the short-lived NBC comedy series "Here and Now"
(1992), he voiced the character of The Producer on the animated
children's show "The Magic School Bus" (PBS; 1994-1997).
During that time, Warner helmed several episodes of "Sesame
Street" and made feature acting debut playing Wesley Snipes'
brother in "Drop Zone" (1994). He was also spotted as a
guest in a 1995 episode of the CBS drama series “Touched by an
Angel,” which earned him an Image Award nomination for
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, and had featured
roles in the HBO telefilms "Tyson" and "The Tuskegee
Airmen" (1995).
In 1996, Warner returned to series TV co-starring in the UPN
sitcom "Malcolm and Eddie" and also directed several
episodes. His performance in the show as Malcolm McGee, a responsible
and sensible twenty something who ends up sharing an apartment and a
business venture with relentlessly enthusiastic tow truck owner Eddie
Sherman (played by Eddie Griffin), handed him an Image Award
nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series in 2001.
During his "Malcolm and Eddie" stint, Warner made a
second feature, an ensemble piece called "Restaurant"
(1998). And after his contract with "Malcolm and Eddie"
ended in 2000, Warner co-starred with Luke Perry in the Showtime
post-apocalyptic series "Jeremiah" (2002-2004), playing
Perry's Jeremiah's partner Kurdy, a tough and cynical man, yet also
passionate who discovers the secrets of Thunder Mountain with
Jeremiah.
Meanwhile, Warner did voice-over for the trailer for “Brown
Sugar” (2002) and made TV commercial for TV Land Network
(2004). After apperaing in Denise Dowse's 41-minute short film
"Reflections: A Story of Redemption" (2004), he went on to
co-star in the short-lived CBS sitcom based on the life of popular
sportswriter Tony Kornheiser, "Listen Up" (2004-2005),
alongside Jason Alexander from “Seinfeld” fame. For his
portrayal as Bernie Widmer, Warner received a BET Comedy Award
nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.
2006 saw Warner in the films "The List," a buddy movie
directed by Brandon Sonnier and stars Wayne Brady and Sydney Tamiia
Poitier, and "Contradictions of the Heart," a drama helmed
by Walter Allen Bennett Jr. which features Vanessa Williams and
LisaRaye. He was also spotted as a guest in a December 2006 episode
of Showtime's drama/psychological thriller series based on the novel
"Darkly Dreaming Dexter" by Jeff Lindsay, "Dexter,"
starring Michael C. Hall.
Warner will soon be seen alongside Matthew McConaughey and Kate
Hudson, playing a gangsta rapper's Rastafarian henchman named
Cordell, in Andy Tennant's upcoming 2008 adventure/romance film about
a married couple who rekindle their romantic life while searching for
a lost treasure, "Fool's Gold," which set to be released on
February 8, 2008.
“It's funny, people aren't so much surprised that I have a
band as much as they are that we're good." Malcolm-Jamal Warner.
In addition to his acting career, Warner has branched out in music
and now fronts the LA jazz-funk band “Miles Long,” which
plays under his own label, Wonder Factory. In 2003, he displayed his
musical chops by releasing his debut EP, "The Miles Long
Mixtape.." He followed it up in 2007 with his sophomore CD
entitled "Love & Other Social Issues." Although the
majority of the CD was thought up by Warner and his band, the first
track slot was earned by up-and-coming music producer Young Hype. The
song "Running on Empty," which also became a front-running
song for the album, is produced and co-written by Young Hype.
"Urban Jazz/Funk has been the closest description, which is
cool because we do approach you like jazz, but definitely hit you
with the funk." Malcolm-Jamal Warner.
Recently, an evening with Warner scheduled to perform at 7 p.m. at
Pittsburg State University's Overman Student Center has been
postponed due to weather-related travel delays. The show has been
rescheduled for Monday, Feb. 25, at the same time and location.
Awards:
Young Artist: Best Young Actor Supporting Role in a
Television Series, "The Cosby Show," 1990
Young Artist: Best Young Actor/Actress Ensemble in a
Television Comedy, Drama Series or Special, "The Cosby Show,"
1989
Young Artist: Best Young Supporting Actor in a Television
Comedy Series, "The Cosby Show," 1985
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