Phylicia Rashad speaks onstage during the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards at Peacock Theater on September 14, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
Actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner attends 2023 Beloved Community Awards at Hyatt Regency Atlanta on January 14, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Pamela Warner, mother and manager of the late actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, reflected on the life-shattering moment her son had untimely passed away.

During an interview with ABC's "Good Morning America," Pamela recalled letting out a scream heard throughout her cul-de-sac when she found out "The Cosby Show" star, known for his portrayal as Theo Huxtable, had accidentally drowned at a beach in Costa Rica on July 20.

"It was from the bottom of the soul, and what came up and what came out was huge. It was an indescribable pain that resonated throughout my body," she said.

Pamela revealed that Warner's wife and daughter were in Costa Rica for a homeschool immersion program, and the actor arrived during the last week of the experience. During the trip, Warner, 54, and another man went into the water when the current swept them away.

"There was an undertow, and my son was not an experienced swimmer. He did not know how to deal with an undertow," Pamela stated, confirming that the late actor's daughter was not in the water during the incident despite initial reports.

Phylicia Rashad honors Warner at the Emmys

Also known for roles such as Malcolm McGee in the 1990s UPN sitcom "Malcolm & Eddie" and as Dr. AJ Austin on the Fox medical drama "The Resident," Warner's death sent shockwaves throughout Hollywood.

Tributes from peers and fellow co-stars took over social media, including Keshia Knight Pulliam, who honored him in a heartfelt Instagram post, saying, "I lost my big brother but I gained an angel." Pulliam, 46, played his younger sister Rudy on the iconic sitcom "The Cosby Show".

One of the latest tributes came from Warner's onscreen mom, Phylicia Rashad, at the 2025 Emmy Awards during the "In Memoriam" segment: "He was a beloved teenager in an iconic television series who the world watched grow into manhood. And like all our friends who transitioned this past year, Malcolm-Jamal Warner remains in our hearts."

'Our journey...was complete'

While on "Good Morning America," Pamela shared that the family is still deeply grieving his death. She told Robin Roberts that throughout the storm, she had found a sense of peace.

"There was nothing left on the table. There was no should've, could've, would've," she said. "I feel that our journey together as mother and son was complete."

According to reports, Warner's final TV performance on Fox's "Murder in a Small Town" is expected to air in early October.

Contributing: Taijuan Moorman, Brian Truitt, USA TODAY

Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at tardrey@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Malcolm-Jamal Warner's mom reflects on the late actor's death: 'Pain'

Reporting by Taylor Ardrey, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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