Biographie
Emmy-nominated actor and director Malcolm-Jamal Warner was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, and named after Malcolm X and renowned jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal.
Warner gained national recognition starring in the acclaimed, long-running television series "The Cosby Show," earning a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. As an experienced director, he worked on numerous TV shows, including serving as a regular director and producer on the comedy series "Malcolm & Eddie." He also directed episodes of "The Cosby Show," "All That," "Keenan & Kel," "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," "Sesame Street," and the AIDS awareness video "Timeout: The Truth about HIV, AIDS, and You," which starred Magic Johnson and Arsenio Hall and earned Warner the NAACP Key of Life Image Award. His short film "This Old Man" received critical acclaim on the theater festival circuit.
In film, Warner made his feature debut in Paramount Pictures' "Drop Zone," and appeared in Warner Bros.' "Fools Gold" alongside Matthew McConaughey, Kate Hudson, and Donald Sutherland. He also featured in independent films such as "Restaurant" with Adrien Brody, "A Fare to Remember," and "The List" with Wayne Brady.
On stage, Warner starred in off-Broadway productions including "Three Ways Home" and "Cryin' Shame," the latter earning him the NAACP Theater Award for Best Supporting Actor. He performed in "Freefall" at Chicago's Victory Garden Theatre and in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at California's La Jolla Playhouse. His West Coast debut one-man show, "Love and Other Social Issues," received critical acclaim. In 2013, he returned to the stage reprising Sidney Poitier’s role as Dr. John Prentice in "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner."
During the 2010s, Warner had recurring roles on TNT's "Major Crimes" and FX's "Sons of Anarchy." He also appeared on NBC's "Community" and guest-starred on "The Michael J. Fox Show," TNT's "Hawthorne," AMC's "The Cleaner," and Showtime's "Dexter." In 2011, he produced, directed, and starred in the BET original series "Reed Between the Lines" alongside Tracee Ellis Ross.
Warner’s voice work includes four seasons as the "Producer" on PBS' "The Magic School Bus." He contributed to audiobooks such as "The Marvelous Effect" (Berkley Trade) and Bill Cosby's "Fatherhood" (Simon & Schuster). Beyond acting and directing, Warner was a poet and bass player. His jazz-funk band, Miles Long, performed at major jazz festivals including the Playboy Jazz Festival, opened for artists like Earl Klugh and Luther Vandross, and played at the Apollo Theater. He independently released the albums "The Miles Long Mix Tape" and "Love and Other Social Issues."
Warner resided in Los Angeles, California.
