Malcolm-Jamal Warner Playfully Admitted He Would’ve ‘Slipped Tongue’ in On-Screen Kiss With Co-Star if Single

Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s legacy is rooted in his breakout role as Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show, where he helped redefine the image of young Black men on television during the 1980s. But his impact goes far beyond that iconic role. Over the decades, Warner has built a multifaceted career as an actor, director, poet, and musician. From his Emmy-nominated performance in American Crime Story to his thought-provoking spoken word work, Warner has remained a thoughtful and evolving artist. And he also appeared to have a fantastic personality. Here’s what he once joked with Sherri Shepherd on her talk show regarding the kisses they shared on her sitcom, Sherri.

Malcolm-Jamal Warner and Sherri Shepherd joked about the kisses they shared on TV in the past

In the short-lived but heartfelt sitcom Sherri, Malcolm-Jamal Warner played a grounded and supportive presence opposite Sherri Shepherd’s title character, bringing warmth and complexity to a show centered on love, reinvention, and single motherhood. Premiering in 2009 on Lifetime, the series followed Sherri as she navigated life after divorce, career shifts, and co-parenting—often leaning on Warner’s character for emotional insight and balance. Though the show only lasted one season, Warner’s performance stood out for its maturity and natural chemistry with Shepherd, adding depth to a sitcom that blended humor with real-life struggles.

In 2023, Warner was a guest on Shepherd’s talk show of the same name, Sherri. The two co-stars talked about how they “had a blast” co-starring together, as Warner played Shepherd’s “cheating ex-husband” in the short-lived series. Shepherd also admitted that she adored kissing Warner as the cameras rolled.

“I always told the writers to write a scene where I had to kiss you,” Shepherd told Warner. “Did you know that? You couldn’t figure out why we were kissing so much in the show?”

The crowd went wild over Shepherd’s admission — and Warner had something even funnier to respond with.

“But you didn’t know that if I wasn’t in a relationship at the time, I might’ve slipped tongue in,” Warner told Shepherd. Shepherd screamed and ran off the stage in amusement, delighting fans. When she returned, she melted off the couch in laughter.

“Oh, my goodness, my uterus is moving!” Shepherd exclaimed. “Oh man, wifey, I’m so sorry!”

The talk show host asked the actor how it feels to ‘strike a chord within hearts’

In another episode of the talk show, Sherri, Malcolm-Jamal Warner joined as a guest to discuss the impact of The Cosby Show and his well-known role as Theo Huxtable. Sherri Shepherd asked Warner how it felt to “strike a chord within hearts” of viewers that still rings true decades later.

“You know what, my experience, coming out of the box on [The Cosby Show] … it wasn’t just the No. 1 show in the world. It was a show that had such an impact on the world, on white America, on Black America, and that is something that I will always be proud of being associated with,” Warner explained.

Shepherd noted that he introduced his daughter to the show when she was 4. He called it a “surreal” experience.

Sherri Shepherd reacted to Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s death

Sherri Shepherd responded to Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s death on social media.

“I’m completely devastated over the passing of my friend Malcolm-Jamal Warner,” she posted to X on July 21, 2025. “He brought much laughter and gravitas playing my husband on my self-titled sitcom. He also made two appearances on my talk show @SherriShowTV, most recently in April to promote his series, Alert: Missing Persons Unit.“

“As someone who grew up on TV, Malcolm remained one of the most-grounded people I’ve ever met in our business,” she continued. “To know Malcolm was to know a renaissance man that possessed humor, grace, humility, and deep cultural appreciation. He was just a good guy! His passing is a true loss to the Hollywood community. He was a proud girl dad and loved his daughter so much. To his family, friends, and all who loved him — my heart is with you.”

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