Malcolm-Jamal Warner recalled the tension behind the scenes of “The Cosby Show” before his death: “This battle has never stopped”

Need to know

• Malcolm-Jamal Warner played Theo Huxable on The Cosby Show From 1984 to 1992

• The actor discusses his eight seasons on the sitcom NBC in the new HBO documentary Seen and heard

• Warner died in August at 54

Before his tragic death by drowning in Costa Rica at the age of 54 in July, The Cosby Show Former Malcolm-Jamal Warner shared some memories of work on the historic sitcom NBC from 1984 to 1992.

The actor was interviewed for the two -part HBO documentary Seen and heardwhich is presented in the presence of September 9 and 10. Executive produced by Issa Rae, the documentary, which traces the past, the present and the future of black talents and black programming on television, broadcast on two nights, with the first episode, “seen” by making its debut on September 9.

Assorted black creatives, in particular Oprah Winfrey, traces Ellis Ross, Debbie Allen, Shonda Rhimes, Tyler Perry and Rae herself appear during the two episodes, just like Warner, in a segment focused on The Cosby Show. He explains how an early interaction tense with Bill Cosby influenced his work on the show.

“When I auditioned for CosbyI was 13 years old, “recalls Warner, who played the only Huxable son, Theo.” I had looked, you know, Difficulty And watching these children on television is smart alecks and what do you have. This is what my game had been influenced. “”

The hearing went well-at least that is to say. “I mean, I killed in the room. I was laughing, and I am 13 years old, I kill in the room. And I finished my hearing, and everyone smiled, except Mr. Cosby, and he looked at me, and he said:” Do you want to talk to your father like that? “And I said,” No. “He said:” Well, I don’t want to see this in this show. “”

Throughout the sitcom race, Warner remembers, Cosby fought with leaders in the tone of the show while he was fighting so that he remains faithful to his vision. “Mr. Cosby made sure everyone was very aware The Cosby Show was his original idea, “said Warner.” But then you have these other creatives, you know, there is a network producer, writers, you know, a studio arriving, trying to tell him how to make his show, and at each stage of the path, Mr. Cosby had to stop them and remind them that this is not the show we make. “”

It was a fight that Cosby owed salary and winning again and again. “I watched her do this from the year one to the eight,” adds Warner. “This battle never stopped, until the show stops.”

For Warner, the response of the fans valued the effort. “I received tens of thousands of letters from people who said:” Thank you. Thank you for the show. We are the huxatables “, and you know, and the show was obviously criticized not to be black enough, not to be a real representation of the black experience,” he said in the documentary.

Despite the good intentions of Cosby with his homonymous sitcom, his own actions would ultimately destroy his reputation and tarnished the heritage of the series. After a number of women have come forward and accused him of sexual assault during the decades, he faced accusations of drugs and sexual assault on one of his accusers, was sentenced in 2018 and sentenced up to 10 years in prison. He was released in 2021 after having served almost three years because a previous district prosecutor had concluded a non-parentement agreement with Cosby in exchange for his testimony in a civil affair against him.

In 2023 Warner told People that Cosby’s legal problems and the 88 -year -old non -gratant personality status in Hollywood did not change the way he saw the show that made him a star child.

“No matter what some people can feel the show now,” he said, “I am always proud of heritage and I have been part of such an emblematic program that had such a deep impact – first and foremost black culture – but also American culture.”

The first episode of Seen and heard First on HBO September 9 at 9 p.m. HE. Part 2 was starting on September 10 at 9 p.m. he.

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