Malcolm-Jamal Warner

Actor


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In his three-and-a-half-hour interview, Malcolm-Jamal Warner recalls his early television appearances on shows like Fame and Matt Houston. He describes being cast on The Cosby Show as "Theo Huxtable," detailing his audition process and shooting the pilot which included the famous "Monopoly money" scene. He talks at length about his Cosby Show castmates, including Bill Cosby, Phylicia Rashad, Lisa Bonet, Tempest Bledsoe, and Keshia Knight Pulliam, and explains "Theo's" relationships with his family members. He recalls The Cosby Show's immense popularity and influence on Black culture, and talks of his 1986 Emmy nomination. Warner speaks of various projects after The Cosby Show, including Malcolm & Eddie, Community, Reed Between the Lines, and Jeremiah. He concludes with advice to aspiring actors and talks about his then-future. Nancy Harrington conducted the interview on July 3, 2013 in North Hollywood, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"The Cosby Show was the first time on television you saw a Black family where the humor was not predicated upon how hard it is to be Black in America, or Black affectations and Black slang. Bill Cosby said the humor is in the truth. When you play the truth of the moment you'll find the humor. That way you can make anything funny."

People Talking About ...
Highlights
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on being cast as "Theo Huxtable" on The Cosby Show
05:26
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on "Theo Huxtable's" relationship with "Cliff Huxtable" on The Cosby Show
05:11
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on being nominated for an Emmy for The Cosby Show
01:36
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on black culture on The Cosby Show
00:58
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on hosting Saturday Night Live
01:43
Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On his early life and influences; on becoming an actor; on early television appearances
On being cast as "Theo Huxtable" on The Cosby Show; on the character "Theo Huxtable"
On "Theo Huxtable's" look on The Cosby Show; on working with Bill Cosby
On shooting the pilot for The Cosby Show; on what The Cosby Show was attempting to achieve; on a typical production week for the show

Chapter 2

On black culture on The Cosby Show; on his education on the set of The Cosby Show; on the main cast of The Cosby Show
On the secondary cast on The Cosby Show; on working with Phylicia Rashad
On his favorite episodes of The Cosby Show; on directing the show
On the end of The Cosby Show and the show's legacy; on hosting Saturday Night Live

Chapter 3

On hosting Saturday Night Live; on acting on the series Here and Now
On starring on the series Malcolm & Eddie; on his problems with Malcolm & Eddie; on the end of the series
On guest starring on Dexter; on appearing in the series Jeremiah and Celebrity Poker Showdown; on acting on the series Listen Up
On starring on the series Reed Between the Lines

Chapter 4

On the end of the series Reed Between the Lines; on appearing in Community; on how the television business has changed since he started
On fame and his fans; on career achievements and regrets; on advice to aspiring actors and where he sees himself in the future
Shows

Cosby Show, The

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Malcolm-Jamal Warner on being cast as "Theo Huxtable" on The Cosby Show
05:26
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on his character "Theo Huxtable" on The Cosby Show
08:13
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on how his character "Theo Huxtable" evolved on The Cosby Show
03:12
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on "Theo Huxtable's" look on The Cosby Show
03:58
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on working with Bill Cosby on The Cosby Show
06:08
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on shooting the pilot for The Cosby Show
05:07
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on what he believes The Cosby Show was trying to achieve
01:48
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on a typical Cosby Show production week
06:02
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on dealing with Standards and Practices on The Cosby Show
02:11
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on black culture on The Cosby Show
00:58
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on his education during The Cosby Show
04:12
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on "Theo Huxtable's" relationship with "Cliff Huxtable" on The Cosby Show
05:11
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on "Theo Huxtable's" relationship with "Clair Huxtable" on The Cosby Show
01:31
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on "Theo Huxtable's" relationship with "Vanessa Huxtable" on The Cosby Show
01:41
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on "Theo Huxtable's" relationship with "Denise Huxtable" on The Cosby Show
03:12
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on the cast of The Cosby Show
06:58
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on working with Phylicia Rashad as "Clair Huxtable" on The Cosby Show
02:17
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on his favorite Cosby Show episodes
08:12
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on directing The Cosby Show
05:40
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on being nominated for an Emmy for The Cosby Show
01:36
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on the end of The Cosby Show
01:34
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on the legacy of The Cosby Show
04:06

Dexter

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Malcolm-Jamal Warner on guest starring on Dexter
02:47

Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)

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Malcolm-Jamal Warner on being nominated for an Emmy for The Cosby Show
01:36

Fame (1982-87)

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Malcolm-Jamal Warner on appearing on Fame and Matt Houston
03:28

Malcolm & Eddie

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Malcolm-Jamal Warner on starring in Malcolm & Eddie and his problems with it
06:11
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on working with Eddie Griffin on Malcolm & Eddie and his music career
04:08
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on writing the theme song to Malcolm & Eddie
01:54
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on the end of Malcolm & Eddie
01:18

Saturday Night Live

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Malcolm-Jamal Warner on hosting Saturday Night Live
02:53
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on hosting Saturday Night Live
01:43
Topics

Advice

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Malcolm-Jamal Warner on advice for an aspiring actor
04:23

Censorship / Standards & Practices

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Malcolm-Jamal Warner on dealing with Standards and Practices on The Cosby Show
02:11

Characters & Catchphrases

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Malcolm-Jamal Warner on his character "Theo Huxtable" on The Cosby Show
08:13

Classic TV series episodes

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Malcolm-Jamal Warner on his favorite Cosby Show  episodes
08:12

Comedy

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Malcolm-Jamal Warner on his favorite Cosby Show  episodes
08:12

Emmy Awards

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Malcolm-Jamal Warner on being nominated for an Emmy for The Cosby Show
01:36

Fame and Celebrity

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Malcolm-Jamal Warner on meeting his fans and the pitfalls of fame
09:16

Historic Events and Social Change

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Malcolm-Jamal Warner on what he believes The Cosby Show  was trying to achieve
01:48
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on black culture on The Cosby Show
00:58
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on how the portrayal of Black Americans has changed since he started acting
02:28

Overcoming Adversity

View Topic
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on being cast as "Theo Huxtable" on The Cosby Show
05:26

Pivotal Career Moments

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Malcolm-Jamal Warner on being cast as "Theo Huxtable" on The Cosby Show
05:26

Pop Culture

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Malcolm-Jamal Warner on his character "Theo Huxtable" on The Cosby Show
08:13
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on his favorite Cosby Show  episodes
08:12
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on meeting his fans and the pitfalls of fame
09:16

Representation on Television

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Malcolm-Jamal Warner on what he believes The Cosby Show  was trying to achieve
01:48
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on black culture on The Cosby Show
00:58
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on how the portrayal of Black Americans has changed since he started acting
02:28

Television Industry

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Malcolm-Jamal Warner on dealing with Standards and Practices on The Cosby Show
02:11
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on advice for an aspiring actor
04:23
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on how the television business has changed since he started in it
04:15

Underrepresented Voices

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Malcolm-Jamal Warner on what he believes The Cosby Show  was trying to achieve
01:48
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on black culture on The Cosby Show
00:58
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on how the portrayal of Black Americans has changed since he started acting
02:28
Professions

Actor

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Malcolm-Jamal Warner on advice for an aspiring actor
04:23

Performers

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Malcolm-Jamal Warner on advice for an aspiring actor
04:23
Genres

Comedy Series

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Malcolm-Jamal Warner on playing "Theo Huxtable" on The Cosby Show (Part 1)
42:39
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on playing "Theo Huxtable" on The Cosby Show  (Part 2)
53:14
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on starring on Malcolm & Eddie
13:31
People

Bill Cosby

View Person Page
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on being cast as "Theo Huxtable" on The Cosby Show
05:26
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on working with Bill Cosby on The Cosby Show
06:08
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on shooting the pilot for The Cosby Show
05:07
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on what he believes The Cosby Show  was trying to achieve
01:48
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on "Theo Huxtable's" relationship with "Cliff Huxtable" on The Cosby Show
05:11

J. Michael Straczynski

View Interview Page
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on acting on the series Jeremiah
08:38

Lisa Bonet

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Malcolm-Jamal Warner on "Theo Huxtable's" relationship with "Denise Huxtable" on The Cosby Show
03:12

Phylicia Rashad

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Malcolm-Jamal Warner on working with Phylicia Rashad as "Clair Huxtable" on The Cosby Show
02:17
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on "Theo Huxtable's" relationship with "Clair Huxtable" on The Cosby Show
01:31

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