The upcoming season of Fox’s Murder in a Small Town will feature a poignant and heartbreaking performance from the late Malcolm-Jamal Warner, marking one of his final screen appearances before his untimely passing.
Warner, beloved for his role as Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show, tragically died at age 54 in an accidental drowning while on a family vacation in Costa Rica on July 20. Earlier this year, he filmed a guest role for the crime drama’s second season.
His episode, titled “Mother Love,” will air October 7 as the third episode of the season. Warner portrays Richard Buscombe, a deeply conflicted father who becomes the prime suspect in his ex-wife’s murder after she returns to their small town. Richard is described as a man weighed down by heartbreak, anger, and regret, but driven by a fierce devotion to his daughter.
Showrunner and executive producer Ian Weir praised Warner’s work in the role, telling People:
“His performance — as a struggling single dad, fiercely protective of his daughter — just glows with integrity. He found levels that I hadn’t imagined.”
Murder in a Small Town follows Karl Alberg, a former big-city detective seeking peace as police chief in the coastal town of Gibsons, only to find himself drawn into the murders that keep surfacing in the seemingly idyllic community.
Season 2 premieres September 23, with Warner’s moving and powerful episode airing October 7 — a performance that now stands as a touching farewell to a beloved actor whose talent left an enduring mark on television.
