Malcolm-Jamal Warner Biography

Malcolm-Jamal Warner (born August 18, 1970) is an American television actor, television director, and musician. He is best known for his roles as Theo Huxtable on the long-running NBC sitcom The Cosby Show. and as Malcolm McGee on the UPN sitcom Malcolm & Eddie. He is currently starring as Dr. Alex Reed on the new BET sitcom Reed Between the Lines.

Early life

Malcolm-Jamal Warner was born in Jersey City, New Jersey and was raised by his divorced mother, Pamela Warner, who served as his manager. He was named after Malcolm X and Jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal. At the age of 9, Malcolm demonstrated an interest in show business which led to enrollment in acting schools. His active career as a child later led him to graduate high school from The Professional Children's School in New York City.

Career

With appearances and roles on many television shows and films, he landed his most successful role as Theo Huxtable, the only son of Heathcliff Huxtable, who was played by Bill Cosby on the NBC sitcom, The Cosby Show from 1984 to 1992. Warner auditioned for the role on the very last day of the nationwide search and was chosen by Cosby himself.

He also starred in Jeremiah, was the voice of The Producer character on The Magic School Bus and co-starred with comedian Eddie Griffin for four years on the UPN sitcom Malcolm & Eddie. Warner continued his career on the CBS sitcom Listen Up! with Jason Alexander and the host of the literacy-promoting children's show CBS Storybreak. He guest-starred on an episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel Air playing the role of Hilary's boyfriend, and has directed several music videos including British R&B group Five Star's "I Love You For Sentimental Reasons" (1994) as well as many sitcom episodes including The Cosby Show, All that, Kenan & Kel, and Malcolm & Eddie. Also In 1988 Warner was In New Edition's 1988 Music Video N.E Heartbreak.

In addition, Warner directed the acclaimed, teen-oriented public health video "Time Out: The Truth About HIV, AIDS, and You" (1992), which featured Arsenio Hall and Earvin "Magic" Johnson (among others) discussing the realities of HIV and AIDS and the best ways to prevent its spread.

In 2003, Warner released his debut EP, "The Miles Long Mixtape." In 2007, Warner followed up with his second CD entitled, "Love & Other Social Issues." In 2009 he guest starred in an episode in the new TNT series HawthoRNe. In 2011 he guest starred in an episode of the NBC series Community as the ex-husband of Shirley Bennett (Yvette Nicole Brown). His character subtly referenced his Cosby Show past by wearing a "Cosby sweater" that he stated was from his dad.

He is also a performance poet, and has performed at the National Black Theatre Festival since 2003, in addition to hosting its Poetry Jam.

Warner's most recent television role is on Black Entertainment Television's new scripted comedic television series Reed Between the Lines as Alex Reed. In this series, which first aired in 2011 Warner plays the role of an English professor married to Carla Reed, a psychologist played by former Girlfriends star Tracee Ellis Ross. The couple have three children together, Kaci, played by Zoe Borde and Kenan Renolds played by Nadji Jeter, which are Carla's children from a previous relationship and Alexis Reed Zoe Hendrix which is their child together. The show highlights the couple's ups and downs together as a blended family. In 2012 Warner was nominated for Outstanding Actor in a comedy series at the NAACP Image awards for his role in Reed Between the Lines.

Warner is also a bass player.

Personal life

Warner had a relationship with actress Michelle Thomas (who portrayed his girlfriend Justine on "The Cosby Show"), and was at her bedside when she died in 1998. He was in a relationship with actress Karen Malina White for seven and a half years, but never married.

Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1982	Matt Houston	Johnny Randolph	Episode: "Stop the Presses"
1983	Fame	Lucas Boyd	Episode: "Ending on a High Note"
1984	Call to Glory		Episode: "A Nation Divided"
1984"1992	'	Theodore 'Theo' Huxtable	Series regular
1985	CBS Storybreak	Host
1986	ABC Afterschool Special	Charlie Curtis	Episode: "A Desperate Exit"
1986	Saturday Night Live	host	Episode: "Malcolm-Jamal Warner/Run-DMC"
1987	'	Joey	NBC television film
1987	Home Alone: A Kid's Guide To Playing It Safe When On Your Own	Himself/Host	Direct-to-video special
1988"89	'	Theodore 'Theo' Huxtable	Episodes: "My Dinner With Theo" & "Risky Business"
1989	Mother's Day	Cullen Sturgis	Television film
1989	Tour of Duty	SPC Sweet	Episode: "The Volunteer"
1990	Saturday Morning Videos	Host
1990	'	Spinner
1991	'	Eric	Episode: "Cased Up"
1992"93	Here and Now	Alexander 'A.J.' James	Lead role
1994	Drop Zone	Terry Nessip
1994"97	'	The Producer
1995	Touched by an Angel	Zack	Episode: "There But For the Grace of God"
1995	Tyson	Rory Holloway	HBO television film
1995	'	Leroy Cappy	HBO television film
1996"2000	Malcolm & Eddie	Malcolm McGee	Lead role
1997	Moloney		Episode: "The Ripple Effect"
1998	'	Winter Valen
1998	Restaurant	Steven
1999	Sliders	R.J.	Episode: "My Brother's Keeper"
2001	Legend of the Candy Cane	Rusty (voice)	Television film
2002	Static Shock	Lester Biggs (voice)	Episode: "Duped"
2002	Lyric Cafe	Host
2002"04	Jeremiah	Kurdy Malloy	Series regular
2004	Reflections: A Story of Redemption	Samuel
2004	Stripperella		Episode: "The Bridesmaid"
2004"05	Listen Up!	Bernie Widmer	Series regular
2006	'	Randy
2006	Contradictions of the Heart	Miles Long Band
2006	Dexter	Rita's Lawyer	Episode: "Seeing Red"
2008	'	Jason Anders	Episode: "Lie with Me"
2008	Fool's Gold	Cordell
2009	HawthoRNe	Fred	Episode: "Healing Time"
2009	Sherri	Kevin
2010	True Blue	Walker MacRae	Television film
2010	Special Agent Oso	Braden's Dad	Episode: "The Living Holiday Lights"
2011–present	Community	Andre Bennett	Recurring role
2011–present	Reed Between the Lines	Dr. Alex Reed	Lead role

Discography

The Miles Long Mixtape

• Released: 2003

Love & Other Social Issues

• Released: 2007

Awards and nominations

BET Comedy Awards

• 2005: Nominated, "Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series" "? Listen Up

Emmy Awards

• 1986: Nominated, "Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series" "? The Cosby Show

Image Awards

• 1996: Nominated, "Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series" "? Touched by an Angel
• 2001: Nominated, "Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series" "? Malcolm & Eddie
• 2012: Won, "Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series" - Reed Between the Lines

TV Land Awards

• 2006: Nominated, "Favorite Singing Siblings" "? The Cosby Show (shared w/co-stars)

Young Artist Award

• 1985: Won, Best Young Supporting Actor in a Television Comedy Series - The Cosby Show
• 1988: Nominated, Best Young Male Superstar in Television - The Cosby Show
• 1989: Won, Best Young Actor/Actress Ensemble in a Television Comedy, Drama Series or Special - The Cosby Show (shared w/co-stars)
• 1990: Won, "Best Young Actor Supporting Role in a Television Series" "? The Cosby Show

Books

• Theo and Me: Growing up Okay (1988) - ISBN 0-525-24694-0 (with Daniel Paisner)