Malcolm-Jamal Warner Movies
Best-known as teenage son Theo on the legendary sitcom The Cosby Show, Malcolm-Jamal Warner had already made a handful of TV appearances when he joined the show's cast in 1984. The precocious 14 year old showed up for the last day of casting, but quickly won over the producers and remained with the show until it ended its run in 1992. Warner would go on to try his hand at several other projects, starring in the comedy series Here and Now until 1993 and taking on the role of The Producer on the children's series The Magic School Bus from 1994 to 1997. Warner would also star in the sitcom Malcolm & Eddie starting in 1996, staying with the show until 2000. In 2003, the actor began appearing on the sci-fi series Jeremiah and continued with the show until it was canceled in 2004. Warner would then take on the recurring role of Bernie on the sports-oriented comedy Listen Up in 2005, and subsequently kept busy making appearances on shows like Dexter and The Cleaner. In 2009, Warner found yet another outlet for his talents on the small screen, joining Sherri Shepherd on the sitcom Sherri. ~ Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide- 1986
The Cosby Show's Malcolm-Jamal Warner stretches his acting muscles in this powerful ABC Afterschool Special. Warner is cast as Charlie Curtis, a teenager who on surface seems to have everything -- loving parents, supportive teachers, and many friends. Why then, does Charlie find life so bleak that he ends up committing suicide? Charlie's best friend, Jed (Rob Stone), spends the bulk of the story trying to solve the puzzle -- and to come to terms with the tragedy. A Desperate Exit is based on Eve Bunting's novel Face at the Edge of the World, which is also the title of the 30-minute VHS version of this film. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Rob Stone, (more)
- 1988
Upset over her grades, Denise (Lisa Bonet) invites her brother Theo (Malcolm-Jamal Warner) to visit her at Hillman, hoping that he can cheer her up. Alas, Theo would rather pal around with the other studennts, leaving poot Lisa in the lurch. The closing scenes in this final episode of A Different World's first season neatly set up Lisa Bonet's defection from the series; also making her final regular appearance is Marisa Tomei as Maggie Lauten. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Making another crossover appearance from The Cosby Show, Clair Huxtable (Phylicia Rashad) arrives at Hillman College to conduct a business-etiquette seminar. She also hopes to persuade her daughter Vanessa (Tempestt Bledsoe) to enroll in Hillman, but Vanessa turns out to have other plans. At the same time, Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison) turns to Clair for help after an important job interview with Kinishewa Electronics goes horribly wrong. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1999
- NR
Romance blooms during a very, very long cab ride in A Fare to Remember. Advertising executive Tamara Gault (Challen Cates) gets fast talked into taking an assignment for work on Christmas Eve, but she does so with an eye on the clock, as she needs to get from Seattle back to her home in Los Angeles in time for her wedding. However, Tamara discovers to her horror that all flights out of the Pacific Northwest have been cancelled due to an emergency. Desperate, she hires a cab driver, Winter Valen (Malcolm-Jamal Warner), to drive her from Washington to California. Tamara and Winter have absolutely nothing in common and don't much care for each other at first, but as time goes, by the ice begins to melt and Tamara starts to wonder if the man she really wants could be the guy behind the wheel. A Fare to Remember is most notable for an engaging performance by Malcolm-Jamal Warner, best known for his long run as Theo on The Cosby Show. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Challen Cates, (more)
Wesley Snipes is battling bad guys in the air again, this time with parachutes, in this action-packed suspense thriller. Pete Nessip (Snipes) is a Federal Marshall who, teamed with his brother Terry (Malcolm-Jamal Warner), is escorting criminal computer genius Earl Leedy (Michael Jeter) to a new prison facility. Pete, Terry, and Earl are on a jet en route to Earl's new lockup when terrorists attempt a daring hijacking; Terry is killed in an explosion aboard the plane, and suddenly Earl is missing. Pete discovers that a team of sky-diving outlaws, led by former DEA agent gone bad Ty Moncrief (Gary Busey), have snatched Earl from his flight and spirited him away for a special raid on Washington D.C.; Ty and his men intend to take advantage of an obscure rule in which the normally restricted airspace in Washington D.C. is open to parachute enthusiasts on July 4. Eager to avenge his brother's death and put both Ty and Earl behind bars, Pete recruits sky-diving expert Jessie Crossman (Yancy Butler) to teach him how to infiltrate Ty's team of sky-bound criminals. Superb aerial stunt work highlights this film; please note that Pete's last name is an anagram for the leading man's last name. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Wesley Snipes, Gary Busey, (more)
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days co-stars Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey re-team on the big screen for this adventurous tale about a treasure-hunting couple whose eight-year quest for the ultimate prize has left them flat broke and fresh out of gas. Ben "Finn" Finnegan (McConaughey) is a treasure hunter who has made it his mission in life to track down the Queen's Dowry -- a legendary collection of 40 chests filled with priceless treasure, and lost at sea in 1715. But in his single-minded quest to track down this sizable booty, Finn has sadly neglected his marriage to his loving wife Tess (Hudson). Tess has grown tired of the hunt, and now she's looking to start her life anew by going to work on the massive yacht of globetrotting billionaire Nigel Honeycutt (Donald Sutherland). But just as Tess begins to relish the freedom on her new, laid-back lifestyle, Finn uses his roughish charm to convince the adventurous baron and his debutante daughter Gemma (Alexis Dziena) that the elusive Spanish treasure is finally within reach. Of course no magnate in his right mind would reject the prospect of tracking down the most mythical treasure on the planet, and now as the hapless Tess is forced on yet another wild goose chase, her husband's former mentor Moe Fitch (Ray Winstone) and a greedy local gangster (Kevin Hart) up the stakes by joining in on the race. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Matthew McConaughey, Kate Hudson, (more)
- 1996
This program examines the history and traditions of the African-American family and takes a look at contemporary family life, considering stressful situations such as economic pressure, rising health care costs, divorce, and the complications of raising children in a culture where the effects of crime can be an everyday concern. Hosted by actor Danny Glover (star of the Lethal Weapon movies) and Academy Award-winning actress Esther Rolle of Driving Miss Daisy, the program features interviews with Malcolm-Jamal Warner and Vanessa Williams. This is one volume in the four-part series, Images & Realities, which examines contemporary concerns and issues faced by African-American people, and discusses how solutions can be found through nurturing, shared values, and a sense of community. ~ Alice Duncan, All Movie Guide
A stunning sci-fi epic that re-envisions the future of mankind, this top-rated, action-packed original series is "intriguing" (Associated Press), "fascinating" (Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel) and "deep and intense" (Science Fiction Weekly)! Luke Perry ("Beverly Hills 90210," "Oz") stars as Jeremiah, one of the many young survivors of the "Big Death" that claimed the lives of every adult in the world 15 years ago. Now forging his way through a bleak wilderness fraught with danger and conspiracy, Jeremiah and his most trusted friend, Kurdy (Malcolm-Jamal Warner), are plunged into thrilling adventures that test every facet of their humanity... and ultimately the fate of the human race itself!
- Starring:
- Luke Perry, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, (more)
- 1989
Mother's Day was the first made-for-TV movie produced for the CBN Cable Service (now known as the Family Channel). Given CBN's religious track record and the film's innocuous title, it comes as a mild shock that Mother's Day concerns itself with drug dealers, murder charges and "women in jeopardy." Malcolm Jamal-Warner stars as an urban African-American teen convicted for a drug-related murder. He didn't do it, or so he says. The police don't seem to be concerned over this potential miscarriage of justice, so Malcolm's mother, played by Denise Nicholas, investigates the murder herself--putting her own life on the line in the process. The script's plot hinges on the fact that the teenager and the killer bear a striking resemblance to one another--a fact underlined in broad, blunt strokes by having Malcolm Jamal-Warner play both roles. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1998
- R
Eric Bross directed this drama of romantic roadblocks and racial issues between a group of waitresses and bartenders waiting for their "big breaks." Former alcoholic Chris (Adrien Brody) is a playwright who works as a bartender at the popular Hoboken, New Jersey, restaurant J.T. McClure's, a gathering spot for a variety of creative wannabes. At a local theater, rehearsals are underway for Chris' play, an autobiographical drama echoing his past relationship with Leslie (Lauryn Hill); for the fictional Leslie character, Chris has cast the vulnerable vocalist Jeanine (Elise Neal), and finds himself falling for her. Meanwhile, the actor playing the role of "Chris" has been sleeping with the real-life Leslie, adding to the real-life Chris' confusion. Providing philosophical guidance is the wise-guy best friend Reggae (Michael Stoyanov), a fellow "Newark boy" whose main creative energy goes into scoring drugs. Restaurant was one of the much-discussed stand-outs at the 1998 L.A. Independent Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Adrien Brody, Elise Neal, (more)
- 1986
This 1986 episode of Saturday Night Live is hosted by Malcolm-Jamal Warner and features musical guest Run DMC. ~ Skyler Miller, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Run-D.M.C., (more)
- 1987
This video is for kids who want to be the life of the party. Show Off! A Kid's Guide to Being Cool stars Malcolm-Jamal Warner, best-known for his role as Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show. In this video, the young star offers a collection of fun activities, tricks, amusing gags, and entertaining moves and jokes. A real recipe for good times, the video also includes magic secrets, thumb wrestling instructions, and stunt-fighting lessons. If that doesn't liven the day, try Warner's expert teen advice on making funny faces or concocting a batch of slime. ~ Sally Barber, All Movie Guide
- 1999
In this episode's Alternate World, the wealthy and powerful are able to have themselves cloned for spare body parts. Mistaken for a donor clone, Quinn (Jerry O'Connell) is slated to have his eyes removed--and the surgeon turns out to be a clone of Quinn's own father Michael (John Walcutt), who possesses the real Michael's brilliance but not his soul or compassion. Meanwhile, in their efforts to rescue Quinn, the other Sliders grab his clone by mistake. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1984
The series that literally rescued the moribund situation comedy genre from oblivion, NBC's The Cosby Show made its first appearance on September 20, 1984. By the time its first season was over, the series was the second-highest-rated program in the country, enabling NBC to build a brand-new sitcom empire with such popular offerings as Frasier, Seinfeld, and Friends. Bill Cosby was of course the creator of the series, in concert with the Carsey-Werner Company, whose later efforts included Roseanne, 3rd Rock From the Sun, and That '70s Show. Cosby played the leading character, Dr. Cliff Huxtable, a successful obstetrician who lived in a fashionable Brooklyn townhouse with his attorney wife, Clair (played by Phylicia Ayers-Allen, later billed as Phylicia Rashad). The couple's children included daughters Sondra (Sabrina Le Beauf), Denise (Lisa Bonet), Vanessa (Tempestt Bledsoe), and Rudy (Keshia Knight Pulliam) and son Theo (Malcolm-Jamal Warner). Among the many other characters were Cliff's dad, Russell (Earle Hyman), and mom, Anna (Clarice Taylor); Sondra's boyfriend -- and later husband -- Elvin Tibedeaux (Geoffrey Owens); Theo's pal Cockroach (Carl Anthony Payne II); Rudy's friends Peter (Peter Costa) and Kenny (Deon Richmond); Vanessa's boyfriend Dabnis (William Thomas Jr.); Clair's second cousin, Bedford-Stuyvesant refugee Pam Turner (Erika Alexander); and Pam's friends Slida (Mushond Lee), Charmaine (Karen Malina White), and Lance (Allen Payne). Also, after briefly leaving the series to star in her own series, A Different World, Lisa Bonet returned in the role of Denise, then-married to Lt. Martin Kendall (Joseph C. Phillips) and stepmother of Martin's daughter, Olivia (Raven-Symone). Increasing the number of family members were Sondra and Elvin's twin children, Winnie and Nelson, played during the series' final season by Jessica Vaughn and Gary Gray. Unlike many sitcoms with African-American casts, The Cosby Show did not overemphasize its racial aspects, nor did it traffic in stereotypical characters or dialogue. Put simply, the Huxtables could have been any upper-middle-class family of any color, and it was their normality and universality that made the series a hit with viewers from all ethnic groups. The winner of innumerable industry awards, and America's top-rated sitcom for a remarkable five years in a row, The Cosby Show finished its network run on September 17, 1992, and has been a welcome fixture in the syndicated-rerun field ever since. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bill Cosby, Phylicia Rashad, (more)
- 1992
The Huxtables brace themselves for Cliff's traditional junk-food binge when Clair (Phylicia Rashad) goes out of town for the weekend. Cliff (Bill Cosby), however, insists that he has turned over a new leaf, and serves up a healthy, well-balanced dinner to prove that he's reformed--and he almost gets away with his subterfuge! Elsewhere, Pam (Erika Alexander) and Charmaine (Karen Malina White) volunteer to keep close watch on Rudy (Keshia Knight Pulliam) and her friends, who are determined to prove how "cool" and grown-up they are by taking the subway to a school dance. This episode was originally produced for The Cosby Show's seventh season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
Seething with jealousy because she feels Olivia (Raven-Symone) has usurped her position as the "cute" Huxtable, Rudy (Keshia Knight Pulliam) has a nightmare wherein Olivia is an evil force who uses her cuteness to manipulate everyone around her. "I have grownups under my spell" smirks the "other" Olivia, and she proceeds to prove it by twisting Cliff (Bill Cosby), Clair (Phylicia Rashad) et. al around her little finger and getting anything she wants. The limit comes when Olivia's pony takes over Rudy's bed--and thank heaven that Rudy's parents prove to be as loyal and supportive in her imagination as they are in real life. Throughout this wildly fanciful episode, Vanessa (Tempestt Bledsoe), Pam (Erika Alexander) and Charmaine (Karen Malina White) function as a "nightmare chorus", a la Little Shop of Horrors. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
Hoping to sneak off to a Baltimore concert by the rock band "Wretched", Vanessa (Tempestt Bledsoe) and her friends Janet (Pam Potillo), Kara (Elizabeth Narvaez) and Susan (Lisa Rieffel) cook up an elaborate charade to convince their parents that they're actually attending a sleepover in the home of Susan's grandmother. No sooner have the girls arrived in Baltimore than their borrowed car, and their concert tickets, are stolen. Meanwhile, a fire breaks out in the house next door to the one where the sleepover is allegedly taking place...and when Cliff (Bill Cosby) and Clair (Phylicia Rashad) hear the news on TV, all Heck breaks loose! This episode was codirected by series regular Malcolm-Jamal Warner (Theo). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
In the first episode of the long-running sitcom The Cosby Show, Brooklyn obstetrician Cliff Huxtable (Bill Cosby) is asked by his attorney wife, Clair (Phylicia Ayers-Allen), "Why do we have four children?" Though no answer is forthcoming, the fact seems to remain that there are indeed four kids living in the Huxtable's fashionable brownstone: daughters Denise (Lisa Bonet), Vanessa (Tempestt Bledsoe), and Rudy (Keshia Knight Pulliam), and son Theo (Malcolm-Jamal Warner). And yet, sprinkled throughout the early episodes of season one are several references to a fifth child -- who finally shows up in the person of Princeton University student Sondra (Sabrina Le Beauf), who makes her first appearance in the tenth telecast episode, appropriately titled "Bon Jour Sondra." (Reportedly, Bill Cosby expanded the original four children alotted to the Huxtables to five so that his TV household would mirror his own: four daughters, one son.) Also making their initial Cosby Show appearances during its first season are Earle Hyman as Cliff's father, Russell Huxtable; Clarice Taylor as Cliff's mom, Anna; and Peter Costa as Rudy's close-mouthed friend, Peter Chiara. And as an added bonus, season one boasts memorable guest appearances by Dizzy Gillespie and Lena Horne. The Cosby Show closed out its first season as the second most popular series in the U.S. Clearly, despite the prognostications of the pundits of the period, the "warm family sitcom" format was not dead -- not on NBC, anyway. As icing on the cake, the program won an Emmy award for Outstanding Comedy Series. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bill Cosby, Phylicia Rashad, (more)
