Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s Wife Breaks Silence on Star’s Tragic Death, Reveals Her Identity

Malcolm-Jamal Warner‘s wife has stepped forward to honor her late husband, who died in July at age 54.

In life, ‘The Cosby Show’ actor was known to millions worldwide. However, he carefully carved out a demarcation between his professional endeavors and his private life – keeping the latter under proverbial lock and key.

Case in point, his marriage.

For, while it was known that Warner had a wife, her identity was unknown.

Until now.

Full story below…

Moments ago, widow Tenisha Warner took to her beloved husband’s Instagram to pay an emotional tribute, months after he tragically drowned while they were vacationing in Costa Rica.

Confirming her identity in the process, she shared a snap of their 2017 wedding and announced the launch of the Warner Family Foundation and companion venture, River & Ember, with their daughter.

In sharing the post, Tenisha wrote in the caption:

“Thank you for holding us in so much love during this tender time.

Tomorrow marks our anniversary and my heart is wide open.

For the first time, I’m sharing a glimpse of the love that began it all.

I can still hear my husband’s laugh, still feel the way he made room for every part of me — every tear, every dream.

Today, in his honor, my daughter and I are launching River & Ember and officially opening The Warner Family Foundation.

Together we carry the legacy my husband and I began— one that nurtures children’s inner light
and gives young artists the freedom to create outside the lines.

This is love. Still moving. Still making. Still carrying us forward.”

The full message read:

“River & Ember was born not only from my knowledge as a doctor of psychology, but from my own journey with grief and love. It’s about creating rituals that outlast
us – the kind our children will carry as a legacy.

River & Ember began with two simple forces: the steady flow that carries us forward, and the quiet warmth that keeps us alive inside. My husband embodied both. His presence was a river – steady, sure, and always moving toward what
matters.

His spirit was an ember – glowing with encouragement, igniting possibility in those around him. His way of seeing the world – that children’s inner light is worth tending with care and constancy – is the heartbeat of everything we create here.

This work is not just my offering to families; it is a continuation of the love and presence that shaped our own.

My husband believed deeply in tending not only to the inner light in children, but in ourselves. This company carries forward that belief- offering stories and rituals that honor the quiet power of connection between parent and child. This work is a continuation of that presence he embodied. Through story and ritual, I hope to offer families the same gifts he gave us: a sense of being held, and a reminder that even in life’s changing seasons, our inner light is worth tending.

To the river that carried us.
To the ember that never goes out.
Your love was the first story I ever wanted to keep telling.
From a place of love and legacy…
RIVER AND EMBER

Tenisha Warner”

Our thoughts remain with Warner’s family.