Hollywood is mourning The Cosby Show actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who died on Sunday, July 20, at age 54.

News of Warner’s death stunned and devastated his friends and colleagues, many of whom shared tributes to the late star via social media on Monday, July 21. Tracee Ellis Ross, who starred on the BET series Reed Between the Lines, remembered her TV husband as “warm” and “gentle” in a moving post shared via social media.

Ross wasn’t the only person who wanted to memorialize Warner. Several stars, including Viola Davis, Eddie Griffin and Taraji P. Henson also offered their thoughts and condolences to Warner’s family. The actor is survived by his wife, whose name he did not reveal publicly, and their daughter.

Read on to see what Warner’s friends and colleagues have said about him.

Cosby Show’s Malcolm-Jamal Warner Dead at 54

Adam Sandler

Sandler, who played Smitty on The Cosby Show, recalled working alongside Warner and reflected on his former costar’s death in an interview with Entertainment Tonight.

“I can’t believe it,” he said. “Malcom was so nice to me when I was on the show and we had such good times together.”

Sandler continued, “I was probably 18 and Malcom was probably 17, 16, I don’t know. We would take walks together, all of us and pick up food, talk, play basketball, hang out on the weekends, and go to parties together.”

Sandler said Warner was “so good to me as a person, and his mom was amazing.”

“I’m just sending my love to the family. Malcolm is a true great person, hilarious, smart kid and meant a lot to America,” he concluded. “Absolute great man, I’m so sorry to his wife and his child too.”

Bill Cosby

Cosby reacted to Warner’s death in a statement to Us Weekly.

“This reminds me of the call I got when I was taping The Cosby Show and I got a call saying that my son, Ennis, had been murdered,” he said via his rep, Andrew Wyatt. “It’s just devastating.” (Cosby’s son Ennis died at 27 years old in a failed robbery attempt in 1997.)

Wyatt revealed that Cosby and Warner had kept in touch and had spoken “three weeks ago about a performance” he did in Minneapolis.

“He was so ecstatic about how the crowd received him,” Cosby said, according to Wyatt. “Malcolm was changing the world, humanizing the world through his acting, his music, his poetry and even his new podcast.”

The statement concluded, “You never heard anything negative about the child actors from The Cosby Show. No drugs, no alcohol, none of that. Even though I was their TV dad, I never stopped being their father figure.”

Angela Bassett

Bassett recalled meeting Warner when he starred on Cosby Show, as well as working with him on 9-1-1, in a tribute post shared via Instagram.

“When a special soul like @malcolmjamalwar leaves us far too soon, words fail to adequately describe the unimaginable grief. Malcolm was more than a gifted actor; he was a longtime friend,” she wrote. “When I met him, he was a star on the show that was TV royalty, The Cosby Show. He warmly embraced me as a working actor who was trying to find my way. Even in his youth, Malcolm’s empathy, quiet strength, and his bright light surrounded us all.”

Bassett continued, “Then to have the opportunity to work with him again last year on @911onabc was a memorable full circle moment for us both. In this life, Malcolm is what’s known as a soulful artist whose deep commitment to his craft left an impression on me that has never faded. He carried the weight of cultural legacy with grace, and he always made space for others to shine. His light will remain in our hearts always. My prayers are with you and yours. Rest in perfect peace until we meet again.”

Beyoncé

Beyoncé shared a throwback image of Warner from his Cosby Show days on her website and wrote, “Rest in power, Malcolm-Jamal Warner. For being a big part of our shared television history. You will be missed.”

Jennifer Love Hewitt

Hewitt, who starred on 9-1-1 with Warner, wrote on her Instagram Story, “I cannot believe this. This hurts my heart. A gentleman, an incredible talent and we were so lucky to have him in the 911 family. Heartbroken and sending love to his family.”

Kate Hudson

Hudson also recalled working with Warner in an Instagram Story. “Spent time working on a film in Australia with Malcolm and he was the kindest and sweetest,” she wrote. “My heart is heavy and sending such love to @malcolmjamalwar family.”

Geoffrey Owens

Owens paid tribute to his former Cosby Show costar in a statement to Us.

“This tragedy has almost left me speechless,” he said. “Malcolm was a lovely man, a sweet and sensitive soul. I respected him for many reasons, including the fact that he genuinely loved the act of creation. He had the mind of an actor and the heart of a musician.”

Owens continued, “He was generous too. I did a theater project long ago and asked him to participate, and he was there for me. My heart goes out to his family.”

Jaleel White

“Malcolm and I were industry peers,” White told Extra on July 21. “I mean, really, I can’t even say that. Like, I grew up looking up to him. He was ahead of me in the game. I’m kind of waiting for more details to come out because it was just very disturbing report just accidentally this… you kind of caught me at a loss for words.”

While “reflecting” on his “own memories,”  the Family Matters star shared, “Malcolm was the first former child actor that my mother even let me go out with late at night past 11 p.m. and I had a very close relationship with both him and Michelle Thomas. May they both rest in peace.”

He added, “So  please remember him as a poet, a Grammy award-winning musician, and an actor who did a lot more than just star on a sitcom when he was a kid.”

Tracee Ellis Ross

“I love you, Malcolm,” Ross wrote on social media. “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.”

Eddie Griffin

Griffin, who starred in Malcolm & Eddie with Warner from 1996 to 2000, posted a photo of Warner via Instagram and wrote, “My Big little Brother .”

Sherri Shepherd

“I’m completely devastated over the passing of my friend Malcolm-Jamal Warner,” Shepherd said in a statement shared with Us Weekly. “He brought much laughter and gravitas playing my husband on my self-titled sitcom. He also made two appearances on my talk show Sherri, most recently in April to promote his series Alert: Missing Persons Unit. As someone who grew up on TV, Malcolm remained one of the most-grounded people I’ve ever met in our business. To know Malcolm was to know a renaissance man that possessed humor, grace, humility and deep cultural appreciation. He was just a good guy! His passing is a true loss to the Hollywood community. He was a proud girl dad and loved his daughter so much. To his family, friends and all who loved him—my heart is with you.”

Viola Davis

“I actually am speechless!!!!! No words! Theo was OUR son, OUR brother, OUR friend…” Davis shared via Instagram. “He was absolutely so familiar, and we rejoiced at how TV got it right!! But… Malcolm got it right… and now… we reveled in your life and are gutted by this loss. Blessings and prayers to your family and loved ones… We will speak your name—always. .”

Taraji P. Henson

“This one hurt,” Henson shared via Instagram. “Malcolm, we grew up with you. Thank you for the art, the wisdom, the grace you gave us!!!!! You left the world better than you found it. Rest easy, king!!!! Your legacy lives far beyond the screen. .”

Lisa Lisa

“Sending prayers and condolences to the family friends and colleagues,” Lisa Lisa captioned a photo of Warner on Instagram. “We are all hurting. Rest in Peace King.”

Talib Kweli

“Beyond his iconic acting roles, Malcolm-Jamal Warner was one of the most compassionate and beautiful people I’ve ever met,” Kweli shared via BlueSky. “This is a huge loss. Rest in peace friend. Rest in power brother.”

Isaiah Washington

Washington shared a photo of Warner set to the song “A Change is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke and wrote simply, “RIP Malcolm Jamal Warner.”

Morris Chestnut

“Heartbroken to hear about the passing of Malcolm-Jamal Warner,” wrote Chestnut via Instagram. “Working alongside him on The Resident was an honor. He brought so much depth, warmth, and wisdom to every scene and every conversation. One of the nicest in the business. Rest easy, brother. Your legacy lives on.”

J. Elvis Weinstein

“RIP Malcolm-Jamal Warner,” wrote producer Weinstein via BlueSky. My first sitcom job was as a writer/producer on Malcolm and Eddie. He was a pleasure to be around.”

Peter Zachari

Director and actor Peter Zachari said via Instagram that Warner’s death was a “gut punch.” He continued, “So sad to lose Malcolm-Jamal Warner. There’s something that cuts a little deeper when someone is the same age as you. We were watching kids the same as us growing up on TV, entertaining and educating us. To lose one feels like losing family. Here is is playing comedy so smoothly, trying to avoid his father seeing his newly pierced ear. .”

Wilson Morales

Morales, the longtime editor of BlackFilmandTV.com, wrote via Instagram, “No fake shirt has ever been more famous than when Theo had that Gordon Gartrell shirt on The Cosby Show. RIP #malcolmjamalwarner.”

Gene Moore

“Thank you @malcolmjamalwar for touching our hearts through our television screens,” wrote singer Gene Moore via Instagram. “I didn’t know him personally, but most, if not all of us grew up on The Cosby Show and can feel the sting of his untimely passing. Sending prayers and condolences to his family. R.I.P.”

Guy Gilchrist

Cartoonist Gilchrist also remembered Warner on Instagram. “What a tragic loss for his family and for all of us,” he wrote Monday. “In 1986, he appeared on the cover of Muppet Magazine issue 13 with Cosby Show co-stars Lisa Bonet, Tempestt Bledsoe and Keisha Knight Pulliam. The ‘Cosby Kids’ would later appear in segments on Sesame Street.”