One quarterback guru contacts the other, asking for help in creating a dynamic offense.
The answer is always yes. The results say as much about Jerry Neuheisel and Noel Mazzone’s devotion to one another as they do about their ability to mass-produce yards and points for UCLA.
“No matter what happens,” Neuheisel said in an interview with The Times, “as long as you’re around him you have a smile on your face.”
Noel Mazzone, then the offensive coordinator at UCLA, looks across the field during a game.
(Don Liebig / UCLA Athletics)
The latest call came from the longtime apprentice to his mentor.
With the Bruins sputtering toward an 0-4 start, Neuheisel spoke with Mazzone about possibly returning to Westwood to assist with the offense. Just like he routinely had when he was UCLA’s offensive coordinator a decade earlier, Mazzone cultivated the necessary intelligence, learning that Neuheisel would be promoted from tight ends coach to playcaller before Neuheisel did.
“He was in the car, I believe, the next morning and he was here that evening,” Neuheisel said, “and it was on to try to beat Penn State.”
Beat Penn State they did, reviving an offense and a team that have become the talk of college football. UCLA’s average of 40 points in its two victories has nearly tripled its previous output during that winless start, spawning reminders of the offense the Bruins ran under Mazzone with Neuheisel as a backup quarterback from 2012-15.
That was just the start of a winning combination.
Not long after they had parted ways at the end of their four seasons together in Westwood, Mazzone reached out to Neuheisel, convincing him to give up playing for the Obic Seagulls of Japan’s X League so that he could help Mazzone in 2017 during his second season as Texas A&M’s offensive coordinator.
“When he gave me the call and said, ‘We’re going to the SEC, we’re going to College Station, Texas,’ ” said Neuheisel, who had long known he wanted to become a coach, “I didn’t even ask questions. I got the next flight home.”
Quarterback Jerry Neuheisel looks to pass the ball during UCLA’s game against Texas Longhorns at AT&T Stadium on Sept. 13, 2014.
(Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)
After making the 22-hour drive from Los Angeles to College Station, Neuheisel stayed at a hotel for a week and a half while searching for a place to live — even though he hadn’t been formally hired.
All that mattered was that he was back with his mentor. Now they’re together again, only the roles have been reversed.
“It’s just the first time in my life he’s actually had to listen to all my ideas,” Neuheisel said with a chuckle, “so I have enjoyed the turning of the tables.”
It was only a few weeks ago that Mazzone reconnected with two other former UCLA quarterbacks.
Getting together with Brett Hundley and Mike Fafaul in the Phoenix area to watch some football the weekend that UCLA lost to Northwestern to fall to 0-4, Mazzone and his onetime players let Neuheisel know they were thinking about him.
“They sent a picture from the bar that they were watching us play,” Neuheisel said.
What they didn’t tell him was that they were already considering the possibilities for the 68-year-old Mazzone, who was then the offensive coordinator at Saguaro High in Scottsdale, Ariz.
“At the time, we weren’t doing so great,” Hundley said of the Bruins, “so we were joking that Mazzone would probably be back at UCLA.”
A coaching lifer, Mazzone had made more than 20 stops at the high school, college and NFL levels by the time he agreed to hop into his car and return for his second stint with the Bruins after the team replaced departed offensive coordinator Tino Sunseri with Neuheisel.
Several days later, after hurried preparations and some playcalling debut blunders such as Neuheisel fumbling with the button on his headset that allowed him to talk to his quarterback, UCLA scored on each of its first five drives on the way to a 42-37 victory over then-No. 7 Penn State that qualified as the upset of the college football season.
Jubilant players hoisted Neuheisel onto their shoulders in a scene reminiscent of his greatest moment playing for Mazzone and coach Jim Mora, when he came off the bench to lead a comeback victory over Texas in 2014.
UCLA quarterback Jerry Neuheisel, top, is carried off the field after UCLA’s 20-17 win over Texas on Sept. 13, 2014, in Arlington, Texas.
(Tony Gutierrez / Associated Press)
About a half hour after beating the Nittany Lions, his hair still soaked from the water players had sprayed into the locker room air, Neuheisel revealed what it meant to share this new memory with one of his favorite mentors.
“To have coach Mazzone here has been honestly one of the coolest things ever,” Neuheisel said. “To have him helping with the quarterbacks, to have us to be able to bounce ideas off of him, awesome. Awesome.”
In some ways, the circumstances weren’t that much different when they met.
Neuheisel was the new guy, just trying to prove himself.
In the fall of 2012, he was a freshman quarterback, wanting to show he belonged on the same campus where only a few months earlier his father, Rick, had been fired as the head coach. Mazzone was also a recent arrival after having been hired as part of Mora’s first UCLA staff.
“Jerry’s coming in and you’ve got Kevin Prince, Brett Hundley, Richard Brehaut — I mean, he’s walking into a quarterback room with some studs,” remembered Johnathan Franklin, the running back who would become UCLA’s all-time leading rusher by the end of that season. “All three have played before, and Brett Hundley obviously was a rock star.”
UCLA quarterback Jerry Neuheisel sits on the field before a game against Virginia at the Rose Bowl on Sept. 5, 2015.
(Jae C. Hong / Associated Press)
It was a unique kind of pressure for a legacy who had been born at UCLA Medical Center at a time when his father was a Bruins assistant coach, after having starred for his alma mater as a Rose Bowl-winning quarterback.
“I was just there trying to make the team,” Neuheisel said.
What became quickly apparent given his intrinsic savvy and inquisitive nature was that his longterm future would likely be on the sideline.
“Jerry, for sure, you could always tell he was gonna be a coach from Day One,” Hundley said. “It was like his Pops 2.0.”
Equally impressive was the shrewd offensive coordinator who was quick with a quip and an answer for any challenge a defense might present. Mazzone ran an offense short on plays and long on possibilities. He would explain why certain plays worked in given situations and make sure even the quarterback understood blocking schemes so that everyone appreciated each other’s roles.
“It’s pretty much, you get your best players in space and you make a play,” Franklin said of the overriding philosophy. “I remember he used to call the plays, and he’s like, ‘Man, one guy shouldn’t tackle you, so we’re not going to work on blocking that guy — that’s between you and him, you’ve got to make it happen.’ ”
UCLA offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone leans over on the sideline and looks across the field during a game.
(Don Liebig / UCLA Athletics)
UCLA won 29 games in its first three seasons with Mazzone running the offense and Neuheisel playing a reserve role, except for the September day in 2014 when he earned a megawatt spotlight.
With Hundley sidelined by an elbow injury against nationally ranked Texas, Neuheisel came off the bench and threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Payton with three minutes left, rallying the Bruins to a 20-17 victory. His teammates hoisted him into the air and carried him off the field.
“I mean, unbelievable,” Mazzone said after the game. “Jerry went out and handled the situation better than anyone could. I mean, he really did an awesome job. Really proud for him.”
When he called a reporter after 8 o’clock Wednesday night, Neuheisel wasn’t done for the day. It was just a momentary respite from reviewing game video, several hours left to go before he could finally head home.
His schedule has become so crazed since his promotion that tight end Hudson Habermehl recently fielded a call from Neuheisel’s wife, Nicole, asking him to take an Uber Eats delivery order upstairs to Neuheisel’s office inside the practice facility.
Habermehl was happy to do it, a small thank-you gesture for the 33-year-old coach who has done so much for him and an offense that doesn’t resemble the one from earlier this season even though the Bruins are essentially running the same plays.
If it looks more like a Mazzone offense, that’s not by coincidence.
UCLA offensive coordinator Jerry Neuheisel hugs Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava during the Bruins’ win over Penn State on Oct. 4.
(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
“What made Noel’s offense so great and why I loved it is there was a utilization of space on the field,” Neuheisel said, “and I would say that is what we’ve been trying to emulate is trying to create space on the field and trying to create matchups for our players to have success.”
No one has benefited more than quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who has thrown for five touchdowns with no interceptions over the last two weeks while adding three rushing touchdowns. A previously inert running game has picked up considerable speed, averaging 253.5 yards in the victories over Penn State and Michigan State.
“It seems like there’s a new energy on offense,” Hundley said. “You know, it’s not like they got a whole new starting 11 out there. I mean, it’s the same guys that we were talking about in the beginning of the season, but now they’re putting Nico in a position to make plays.”
Habermehl said everyone’s playing freely and instinctively because Neuheisel explained the reasoning for each play and involved all position groups in offensive meetings to provide a universal understanding of concepts.
“When you coach guys,” Neuheisel said, “you need to let them in on the ‘why.’ I think it’s what I always appreciated when I was a player here and any good team I’ve been a part of.”
Neuheisel’s latest success is likely to earn him a permanent offensive coordinator job, if not a head coaching opportunity, next season. His old friend can probably expect a call asking if he’d like to be part of that staff, the answer a given.
“Wherever there’s ball,” Neuheisel said, “he’ll always find his way there.”
Victoria Beckham’s Netflix documentary has given fans a look at her life and career, including her mentor Roland Mouret.
WARNING: This article contains spoilers from Victoria Beckham on Netflix.
Netflix’s Victoria Beckham documentary is now available to stream, but who exactly is Roland Mouret?
The three-part Netflix docu-series offers viewers an intimate glimpse into Victoria Beckham’s professional and personal journey, with considerable emphasis on her transition into the fashion world.
Years after feeling uncertain about her next move following the Spice Girls’ split, Victoria chose to pursue her passion for fashion and sought guidance from French designer Roland Mouret.
In the Netflix programme, he revealed: “To make the dream become reality, we have to kill the WAG”, alluding to the 51 year old shedding her footballers’ wives persona.
She continues by stating that Roland “saw something and believed in me”, prompting fans to discover more about the designer who guided Victoria Beckham.
Who is Roland Mouret?
French designer Roland Mouret didn’t enjoy the most promising beginning as he abandoned fashion college after merely three months.
However, he subsequently worked as both a model and stylist in Paris after allegedly being discovered in a nightclub and recruited by Jean Paul Gaultier to style his debut menswear presentation.
He relocated to London in his thirties and established a café before securing financial support to become the creative director of People Corporation, a range influenced by his café’s patrons.
But when his funding was pulled, Roland took the bold step of launching his own label, which he successfully showcased at London Fashion Week.
Over time, his designs have graced the likes of Scarlett Johansson, Nicole Kidman, Gwyneth Paltrow and, naturally, Victoria Beckham.
He and the ex-Spice Girl became acquainted through their mutual manager Simon Fuller, famed for creating American Idol, Pop Idol and managing the iconic 90s girl band.
As revealed in the Netflix series, Victoria felt she wouldn’t be taken seriously by the fashion industry and sought Roland’s expertise to teach her the basics of fashion design.
She confessed: “Roland saw something, I don’t know what, but we connected, and he believed in me.
“He was very very honest, and he was really tough. He didn’t care if I liked what he said or not; he just said it.”
She added: “He really challenged me. I don’t sketch, but I did start by draping on myself.
“I remember standing there in the mirror, in my underwear, with Roland and just bits of fabric.
“And he just kept saying, ‘perfect the dress.’ He gave me the tools that I needed to create.”
Victoria then launched her first collection of 10 dresses, but whispers circulated that they were actually designed by Roland.
Both Victoria and Roland challenge this in the Netflix documentary, with a Beckham representative at the time clarifying that he had introduced her to his pattern cutter, fabric suppliers and seamstress atelier, which could explain any similarities with his own work.
Victoria Beckham is available to watch on Netflix.
Rea – who fights Lyndon Arthur on November 1 – is in attendance and opened up on his special bond with the heroic Hitman.
READ MORE ON RICKY HATTON
He told SunSport: “I was lucky that I did have a good relationship and we were friends.
“But I think so many people, even people that maybe just met him once, maybe people that just got a picture with him once, seeing him in the pub or whatever, because of the way he was, everyone feels like they have that kind of personal connection with him.
“He was just down to earth and he was just one of us at the end of the day, no matter how big he made it.
“I think that’s why it has affected so many people and everyone does kind of feel like they know him in a way because he was so down to earth.
“So it’s been a tough one for me to take. It’s been a tough one for most of the boxing scene to take.”
Despite becoming inseparable, Rea admits the novelty of Hatton’s presence in his life never wore off.
I was last person to interview Ricky Hatton – I was gutted when our chat ended
He said: “It just kind of merged into one. I was with him so much and I’d see him so often and we’d spend so much time together in the gym kind of every day.
“You do kind of forget how big he was, how loved he was, and how many people he had an effect on.
“Then every now and again you’d be out sparring or you’d be walking down a residential street somewhere and you’d go, ‘It’s Ricky.’ You know what I mean?
“It’s not just Rick, this is the Hitman and, yeah every now and again I kind of had to pinch myself a little bit and go, ‘This is Ricky Hatton I’m sat in Nando’s with.’ It was a bit surreal.”
Despite Hatton’s superstardom and unrivalled fanfare – he dreaded ever being looked at as anything other than a working class people’s champion.
Rea said: “He was just one of the boys at the end of the day.
“He was so down to earth and that was why the other side come with it he didn’t think he was better than anyone else.
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Hatton became part of Rea’s corner teamCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
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The two celebrate a victoryCredit: @bradrea_
“He didn’t think he was a superstar and I think they probably go hand in hand, kind of just being so down to earth and then still being taken back by all the support.”
Two-weight world champion Hatton would spend 12 hard weeks preparing for his fights – and the rest of his time down the pub with his friends.
Rea was fortunate enough to have socialised with the boxing great – preferring to leave some of their more chaotic tales forever untold.
He beamed: “Oh, there’s so many. There’s so many but all of them I’m just laughing, I’m smiling because it’s just stupid times, rubbish jokes, cracking rubbish jokes.
“I’m lucky that I got multiple different sides of him. I got him as a coach, I had him as part of my team in my corner. I had him as a friend.
“I’ve been to the football with him. I’ve been out for a beer with him, I’ve been on a weekend to Dublin with him, I’ve had all different sides of him.
“I’ve got many memories to kind of look back on. Some stories that I can tell and some I’ll probably keep to myself!”
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Hatton and Rea socialised away from boxingCredit: @bradrea_
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Some of their tales will always remain untoldCredit: @bradrea_
Rea was hit with the devastating news just months before his European title defence against Arthur at the Co-Op Live Arena.
And he has since returned to Hatton’s Hyde – where emotions are high.
Rea, 27, said: “I’d not been there for a while. It is a bit surreal. It is a little bit weird.
“Every time I’ve been in there, the majority of the time he’s in there, and he’s cracking jokes, you know, he’s being Rick.
“But at the end of the day there’s me, there’s a load of other lads in there that still got a job to do and he’d be disappointed if we were moping about and we weren’t training.
“He’d want us to get back at it and he want us to crack on and. So you’ve kind of just got to keep cracking on and do what you can to try and make him proud.”
And the best way to make City super-fan Hatton proud? Beat United supporter Arthur – a friend of former sparring partner – in their hometown.
Rea chuckled: “You know what it is? It’s more how we’d react if I let myself get beat by a United fan!
“He would never let me hear the end of it. He would be on my case and I can’t do that to him. I can’t let him down on that front.”
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Rea faces Man Utd fan Lyndon Arthur on November 1Credit: @queensberrypromotions
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Arthur and Rea are former sparring partnersCredit: @bradrea_
On the eve of the release of her 12th album, Taylor Swift received a thank-you note from George Michael’s estate for including his work in her version of “Father Figure.”
“When we heard the track we had no hesitation in agreeing to this association between two great artists and we know George would have felt the same,” the “Freedom!” singer’s estate posted Thursday on X.
Taylor’s take on “Father Figure” incorporates an interpolation of Michael’s 1987 song from his album “Faith.”
Both songs share a common thread of telling the tale of a specific relationship. In a 1987 interview with ET, the former Wham! singer turned solo star — who died over the Christmas holiday in 2016 — vaguely discussed the meaning behind his track.
“‘Father Figure’ is just a very, without going into too much detail, it’s just a very specific experience that I wrote about a specific relationship with one person,” Michael said.
“I think there’s a definite pattern in people’s lives where they move away from their parents, then they spend time on their own and then they look for that replacement,” he added.
Similarly, the fourth song on Swift’s album “The Life of a Showgirl,” which was released on Thursday, tells the experience of a specific relationship between a mentor and his protégé.
Hmmm. Who could it be? Are the lyrics imaginative or are the details too specific to brush off as fiction? Let’s dissect.
Swift opens her track with: “When I found you, you were young, wayward, lost in the cold / Pulled up to you in the Jag’, turned your rags to gold.”
There is one person who turned her into the gold standard of pop — music executive Scott Borchetta, who signed her to his Big Machine Records label back in the day.
The song initially takes the perspective of the mentor who sees potential, profit and the opportunity to be a father figure for the protégé. In the tail end of the track, the point of view changes to the other side.
“You want a fight, you found it / I got the place surrounded / You’ll be sleeping with the fishes before you know you’re drowning.”
Again, the details seem too specific to write it off as pure fiction, but Swifties may have to stick to speculation unless Swift goes on the “New Heights” podcast to discuss the meaning behind her lyrics with her future husband, Travis Kelce, and soon-to-be brother-in-law, Jason Kelce.
Don’t hold your breath — there’s probably a better chance she releases a new version of “Life of a Showgirl” first.
YUNGBLUD shared a sweet gesture toward late star Ozzy Osbourne during his MTV VMAs tribute performance.
The singer joined Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith and Nuno Bettencourt to commemorate the rocker’s career with a medley of his greatest hits following Ozzy’s passing in July.
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Yungblud shared a sweet message for his mentor, Ozzy Osbourne, during a tribute performance to the rock star at the MTV VMAs
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Yungblud performed alongside Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith and Nuno BettencourtCredit: Getty Images – Getty
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The singer revealed earlier in the night that he was wearing the necklace that Ozzy gifted him before he diedCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Fans noticed at the start of the performance that Yungblud showed the cameras his gold cross necklace and kissed it before heading onto the stage.
They then recognized the piece as the exact necklace that had been gifted to the young artist by Ozzy himself before his death.
Viewers pointed out the connection on social media.
“Dom playing crazy train with the necklace ozzy gave him still on,” one person wrote on X, while others shared they got emotional over the touching tribute.
During a red carpet interview with E! News before the show, Yungblud flashed the momentum and said Ozzy was “here with me” throughout the night.
A FOREVER BOND
Ozzy acted as a mentor to Yungblud in the final years of his life and presented the cross necklace to him at the heavy metal star’s final concert this past summer.
The Crazy Train singer also received a special message from his son, Jack Osbourne, and grandkids, in a touching video played before the performance.
Ozzy died on July 22 from “acute myocardial infarction” and “out of hospital cardiac arrest,” per the former TV star’s death certificate.
He was laid to rest next to the lake in his Buckinghamshire home days later, with his friends and family in attendance.
The Osbournes alum had been battling numerous health conditions in recent years, including Parkinson’s Disease.
Ozzy Osbourne’s cause of death revealed as Black Sabbath legend is given brilliant job title on official certificate
His wife, Sharon Osbourne, stayed close by the Black Sabbath star’s side throughout his health struggles, and was in tears at his funeral service.
Also in attendance were his son, Jack, his daughters, Kelly and Aimee, and a number of celebrity pals, including Marilyn Manson, Elton John, and his Black Sabbath bandmates.
Yungblud was also there to say his final goodbyes to the Dreamer singer.
“I didn’t think you would leave so soon the last time we met you were so full of life and your laugh filled up the room,” Yungblud wrote in a touching Instagram post the day Ozzy died.
WILDEST MOMENTS IN VMAS HISTORY
Madonna’s Like a Virgin performance (1984): The controversial performance at the first-ever VMAs launched her into superstardom and established the awards show as a venue for bold pop culture moments.
Britney Spears, Madonna, and Christina Aguilera kiss (2003): During a medley that showcased Britney and Christina in wedding gowns, Madonna kissed them both. But it was Britney and Madge locking lips that was the kiss seen around the world. The moment was especially shocking when the camera cut to Britney’s then-boyfriend, Justin Timberlake, whose stunned reaction seemed disapproving.
Kanye West interrupts Taylor Swift (2009): After Taylor, 19, won the award for Best Female Video, Kanye, 32, rushed onto the stage and infamously declared that Beyoncé had the “best video of all time” for Single Ladies and deserved the award instead. This was the beginning of a decades-long feud between Kanye and Taylor, which continues to this day.
Lil Mama crashes the stage (2009): In the middle of Jay-Z and Alicia Keys’ performance of Empire State of Mind, Lip Gloss rapper Lil Mama inexplicably walked up, despite being held back by Beyonce. She posed alongside Jay-Z and Alicia as she invited herself into the performance. She posed on stage with them at the end, despite Lil Mama not being a part of the song or the performance.
Lady Gaga’s meat dress (2010): The pop star wore a dress, hat, and shoes made entirely out of raw flank steak. She later explained the outfit was a protest against the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, stating it symbolized fighting for your rights or ending up “meat on your bones”.
Beyoncé’s pregnancy reveal (2011): At the end of her performance of Love on Top, Beyoncé unbuttoned her blazer and rubbed her belly, confirming her first pregnancy to the world. Her husband, Jay Z, watched from the crowd and celebrated with the audience.
Nicki Minaj vs. Miley Cyrus (2015): While accepting the award for Best Hip-Hop Video, Nicki called out Miley Cyrus, who was hosting that year, by asking, “Miley, what’s good?” Nicki later claimed she was genuinely upset with Miley due to comments she had recently made in an interview.
“But as it is written with legends, they seem to know the things that we don’t. I will never forget you – you will be in every single note I sing and with me every single time I walk on stage.”
He also mentioned the necklace, calling it “the most precious thing I own,” and that he was “heartbroken” over losing the music legend.
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The group sang a medley of Ozzy’s greatest hitsCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Malcolm-Jamal Warner, the Emmy-nominated actor who starred as Theo Huxtable for eight seasons on “The Cosby Show,” has died, The Times has confirmed. He was 54.
Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Department told the Associated Press on Monday that Warner drowned Sunday afternoon on a beach on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast. He was swimming at Playa Cocles in Limon province when a current pulled him deeper into the ocean.
First responders from Costa Rica’s Red Cross found him without vital signs and he was taken to the morgue. Warner was on vacation with his family.
Representatives for Warner declined to comment immediately Monday, but Warner’s friends and colleagues poured out their thoughts on social media.
“I love you, Malcolm,” wrote Tracee Ellis Ross, who co-starred as Warner’s wife on 29 episodes of “Reed Between the Lines.” “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.”
Morris Chestnut, who worked with Warner on “The Resident,” was “heartbroken” to hear the news.
“He brought so much depth, warmth, and wisdom to every scene and every conversation,” Chestnut wrote. “One of the nicest in the business. Rest easy, brother. Your legacy lives on.”
“The JOY in your voice as you spoke about your daughter the last time we talked is all I can think about in this moment … Thank You for being a beautiful light. A Masterclass on the phrase ‘a class act.’ Well done,” wrote singer-songwriter Ledisi, who worked with Warner in music and on TV.
“Luke Cage” actor Mike Colter posted an all-smiles photo of himself and Warner that was taken when the two ran into each other about a year ago. They first connected during the pandemic lockdown, he said.
“I was fascinated by his depth and concern for his fellow man. His compassion for his people. His musical gifts and expressions in spoken word,” Colter wrote. “Yes of course I had watched him as I grew up on the Cosby Show but he had grown into so much more as an [artist] and a man. A father.
“I took this photo as his mother sat across from us. I complimented her on what a great job she had done with her son in this industry. He [turned] out so well,” Colter continued. “My heart goes out to her. I never heard a harsh word [spoken] about him. His legacy will live on. I’m so sorry for this loss to his family and friends. i’m in shock to be honest.”
Holly Robinson Peete said she met Warner in the 1980s when her father was a writer-producer on “The Cosby Show.” The two stayed friends over the years.
“I’m struggling to process this,” she wrote. “Malcolm was so deeply loved, respected, and a true icon of television. … He was always gracious, kind, funny and gave the absolute best hugs. I am sending my deepest condolences to his mom, Pamela and his family… We aren’t ready to say goodbye, Malcolm — but you lived with purpose, character, presence, and grace. Rest well, my friend. Your light lives on.”
“I actually am speechless!!!!! No words!,” Oscar-winning actor Viola Davis wrote. “Theo was OUR son, OUR brother, OUR friend… 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.”
Niecy Nash said she had just spoken to Warner. “You were giving me my flowers for my work in @grotesqueriefx and we talked about how happy we both were in our marriages,” she wrote. “ Damn friend … You were cornerstone of The Cosby Show. We all loved Theo! Never to be forgotten. You will be missed. Rest Easy.”
Questlove said he saw himself in Theo Huxtable: being bad at football, wanting clothes he couldn’t afford, hiding edgy things from the parents.
“If you looked like me coming of age in the 80s, Malcom-as-Theo was a gps/lighthouse of navigating safety to adulthood. For those of us that didnt have ‘examples’ or ‘safe environments’ — I would like to think for anyone of age we used this entire show —and its offspring as life blueprints,” the music producer and drummer wrote.
In addition to acting on “The Cosby Show,” Warner directed five episodes over the final three years of the show. He was behind the camera for a half-dozen installments of “All That” and also directed episodes of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” “The Resident,” “Kenan & Kel” and “Reed Between the Lines.”
“Part of the reason I even got into directing is because I realized as an actor you really only have so much creative control over whatever project you’re acting in,” Warner told The Times in 1991. “I felt that, as a director, I would at least have more of a voice.”
He continued, saying, “Directing, as is acting and writing, is an interpretation. And I feel that I have a pretty good sense of how to tell a story. And I think that my interpretation of things is pretty, pretty good.”
Born Aug. 18, 1970, in Jersey City, N.J., Warner was named after activist Malcolm X and jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal. He caught the performing bug by the time he was 9 and wound up attending Manhattan’s Professional Children’s School, which counts him among its “distinguished alumni.”
His parents divorced when he was 3 and he was raised primarily by his mother, Pamela, who served as his manager in the early days of his career.
“I think probably the biggest influence — and I talk about this all the time, and I will probably continue to talk about this until my dying day — my mother. I think she really made the most impact on me,” he said.
Working on “The Cosby Show” in New York instead of Hollywood was another formative experience for him when the sitcom was the most popular thing on TV.
“There weren’t really many other shows shooting in New York. We all had to grow up with friends who were not in the business,” Warner told People in 2024. “And when you grow up in New York, there’s a different exposure to reality than when you grow up on television in Hollywood.”
After getting an Emmy nomination for supporting actor in 1986, for his work on “Cosby,” Warner went on to amass dozens of TV credits. They include four seasons as the lead actor on “Malcolm & Eddie” — he directed 17 episodes on that UPN show — and six seasons as A.J. Austin on “The Resident.”
Other appearances included work on “Sons of Anarchy,” “Major Crimes,” “Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce” and “Suits.”
Warner also won a Grammy for traditional R&B performance in 2015 for the song “Jesus Children” and was nominated for spoken word poetry album in 2023.
His band Miles Long incorporated spoken word and funk. The band released “The Miles Long Mixtape” in 2004 and “Love & Other Social Issues” in 2007. “Selfless” dropped in 2015 and “Hiding in Plain View” came out in 2022.
“I’ve been writing all my life and playing bass came later on, when I was about 26,” Warner told Billboard in 2015. “What I recognized with poetry and music [is] that I had a different voice — there were things I wanted to express that I could not as an actor or even as a director. It was another avenue of expression that my soul needs.”
Of course, he was asked for his thoughts on co-star Bill Cosby when Cosby was accused of rape in 2015.
“He’s one of my mentors, and he’s been very influential and played a big role in my life as a friend and mentor,” Warner told Billboard. “Just as it’s painful to hear any woman talk about sexual assault, whether true or not, it’s just as painful to watch my friend and mentor go through this.”
Warner was very happy in his own marriage, though he kept his wife and daughter’s identities private.
“When people say, when you know, you know. That’s what this feeling is,” he said on the “Hot & Bothered” podcast in May. “We’ve been together almost 10 years. We’ve never had a fight, an argument, a raised voice or a harsh word. Not that we’ve always agreed. We’re just at a point where we have a way of communicating.”
After playing clean-cut Theodore Huxtable, Warner was looking for other paths when he talked to The Times in 1987.
“In my post-’Cosby’ life, as I call it, I don’t want to be known as just the kind of guy who can play a Theo Huxtable-type character,” Warner said. “I want to be known as being able to do more things, being able to stretch. For me that was the most important thing.”
