About
"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."
In his three-and-a-half-hour interview, Malcolm-Jamal Warner (1970-2025) 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.
Highlights
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on being cast as "Theo Huxtable" on The Cosby Show
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on "Theo Huxtable's" relationship with "Cliff Huxtable" on The Cosby Show
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on being nominated for an Emmy for The Cosby Show
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on black culture on The Cosby Show
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on hosting Saturday Night Live
Full Interview
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
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on being cast as "Theo Huxtable" on The Cosby Show
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on his character "Theo Huxtable" on The Cosby Show
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on how his character "Theo Huxtable" evolved on The Cosby Show
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on "Theo Huxtable's" look on The Cosby Show
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on working with Bill Cosby on The Cosby Show
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on shooting the pilot for The Cosby Show
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on what he believes The Cosby Show was trying to achieve
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on a typical Cosby Show production week
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on dealing with Standards and Practices on The Cosby Show
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on black culture on The Cosby Show
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on his education during The Cosby Show
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on "Theo Huxtable's" relationship with "Cliff Huxtable" on The Cosby Show
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on "Theo Huxtable's" relationship with "Clair Huxtable" on The Cosby Show
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on "Theo Huxtable's" relationship with "Vanessa Huxtable" on The Cosby Show
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on "Theo Huxtable's" relationship with "Denise Huxtable" on The Cosby Show
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on the cast of The Cosby Show
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on working with Phylicia Rashad as "Clair Huxtable" on The Cosby Show
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on his favorite Cosby Show episodes
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on directing The Cosby Show
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on being nominated for an Emmy for The Cosby Show
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on the end of The Cosby Show
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on the legacy of The Cosby Show
Dexter
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on guest starring on Dexter
Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on being nominated for an Emmy for The Cosby Show
Fame (1982-87)
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on appearing on Fame and Matt Houston
Malcolm & Eddie
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on starring in Malcolm & Eddie and his problems with it
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on working with Eddie Griffin on Malcolm & Eddie and his music career
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on writing the theme song to Malcolm & Eddie
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on the end of Malcolm & Eddie
Saturday Night Live
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on hosting Saturday Night Live
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on hosting Saturday Night Live
Topics
Advice
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on advice for an aspiring actor
Censorship / Standards & Practices
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on dealing with Standards and Practices on The Cosby Show
Characters & Catchphrases
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on his character "Theo Huxtable" on The Cosby Show
Classic TV Series Episodes
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on his favorite Cosby Show episodes
Comedy
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on his favorite Cosby Show episodes
Emmy Awards
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on being nominated for an Emmy for The Cosby Show
Fame and Celebrity
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on meeting his fans and the pitfalls of fame
Historic Events and Social Change
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on what he believes The Cosby Show was trying to achieve
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on black culture on The Cosby Show
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on how the portrayal of Black Americans has changed since he started acting
Overcoming Adversity
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on being cast as "Theo Huxtable" on The Cosby Show
Pivotal Career Moments
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on being cast as "Theo Huxtable" on The Cosby Show
Pop Culture
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on his character "Theo Huxtable" on The Cosby Show
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on his favorite Cosby Show episodes
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on meeting his fans and the pitfalls of fame
Representation on Television
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on what he believes The Cosby Show was trying to achieve
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on black culture on The Cosby Show
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on how the portrayal of Black Americans has changed since he started acting
Television Industry
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on dealing with Standards and Practices on The Cosby Show
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on advice for an aspiring actor
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on how the television business has changed since he started in it
Underrepresented Voices
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on what he believes The Cosby Show was trying to achieve
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on black culture on The Cosby Show
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on how the portrayal of Black Americans has changed since he started acting
Professions
Actor
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on advice for an aspiring actor
Performers
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on advice for an aspiring actor
Genres
Comedy Series
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on playing "Theo Huxtable" on The Cosby Show (Part 1)
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on playing "Theo Huxtable" on The Cosby Show (Part 2)
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on starring on Malcolm & Eddie
People
Lisa Bonet
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on "Theo Huxtable's" relationship with "Denise Huxtable" on The Cosby Show
Bill Cosby
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on being cast as "Theo Huxtable" on The Cosby Show
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on working with Bill Cosby on The Cosby Show
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on shooting the pilot for The Cosby Show
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on what he believes The Cosby Show was trying to achieve
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on "Theo Huxtable's" relationship with "Cliff Huxtable" on The Cosby Show
Phylicia Rashad
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on working with Phylicia Rashad as "Clair Huxtable" on The Cosby Show
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on "Theo Huxtable's" relationship with "Clair Huxtable" on The Cosby Show
J. Michael Straczynski
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on acting on the series Jeremiah