Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s widow and his mother have reached an settlement in an inheritance battle.
The beloved actor drowned on July 20, 2025 off the coast of Costa Rica. He was 54.
Malcolm was best known for his role as Theo Huxtable in the 1980s sitcom “The Cosby Show.”
Last month, on the anniversary of Malcolm’s death, his widow, Tenisha Warner filed a lawsuit against his mother, Pamela Warner, in DeKalb County (Georgia) Superior Court.
Tenisha sued Pamela for $1.2 million from the family trust.
According to court documents, obtained by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Tenisha accused Malcolm of failing to honor his prenuptial agreement while he was alive.
Tenisha alleges that Malcolm signed a premarital agreement in May 2022 that included a $1 million life insurance policy with her as sole beneficiary. However, he allegedly failed to apply for the insurance policy before he died.
TMZ reports that Pamela settled with Tenisha, mother and legal guardian of Malcolm’s 9-year-old daughter. The settlement has yet to be approved by the court.
Pamela says she remains “hopeful that all parties will support the resolution.”
She denied Tenisha’s claims in a statement to TMZ. “Recent claims that Pamela sought to prevent her granddaughter from receiving financial support are untrue.”
Pamela’s attorney said Malcolm was “thoughtful and deliberate in his estate planning to include all his loved ones.” She said his trust was divided between her, his father and his sister. However, she said Malcolm provided millions for his wife and daughter separately and apart from the trust.
The attorney said, “Pamela has since reached a settlement with her granddaughter’s representatives which is subject to court approval. The agreement provides for Malcolm’s daughter to receive the majority remainder of the Trust and Estate.”