Malcolm-Jamal Warner Widow Sues Family, Claims Cosby Actor Owed Over $1.2 Million

LOS ANGELES, CA. (THECOUNT) — Tenisha Warner, the widow of late actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, has filed a lawsuit against the trustee of the Warner Family Trust, alleging the former “Cosby Show” star failed to fulfill financial obligations outlined in the couple’s prenuptial agreement before his death.

Warner, best known for portraying Theo Huxtable on the long-running NBC sitcom “The Cosby Show,” died on July 20, 2025, after drowning while vacationing in Costa Rica. He was 54.

According to court documents obtained by TMZ, the lawsuit was filed exactly one year after Warner’s death.

Tenisha Warner named Pamela Warner, Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s mother and the current trustee of the Warner Family Trust, as the defendant in the action.

The lawsuit alleges Malcolm-Jamal Warner and Tenisha Warner executed a prenuptial agreement in May 2022, only days before their marriage.

According to the complaint, the actor agreed to provide several financial benefits to his future wife under the terms of that agreement.

Tenisha Warner claims one of the most significant provisions required Malcolm-Jamal Warner to maintain a $1 million life insurance policy naming her as the sole beneficiary.

She alleges the policy was never purchased or maintained as required.

The lawsuit further claims Warner failed to make annual tax-free payments of $16,000 that were allegedly required under the agreement.

Additional allegations include claims that Warner failed to fund a Roth IRA on her behalf and did not pay her an agreed-upon monthly salary of $5,000 for serving as his chief of staff and assistant during the marriage.

According to the complaint, the alleged unpaid obligations total approximately $1,276,042.46.

The claimed damages include $1 million tied to the life insurance provision, more than $50,000 in anniversary-related payments, approximately $30,500 related to the IRA obligation, and roughly $195,000 in unpaid salary.

Tenisha Warner contends that Warner’s estate lacks sufficient assets to satisfy the alleged debt.

As a result, she is asking the court to permit recovery from assets held within the Warner Family Trust.

The lawsuit also seeks interest, attorney fees, and a court order preventing trust assets from being distributed while the litigation remains pending.

No ruling has been issued, and the allegations contained in the lawsuit have not been adjudicated in court.

Pamela Warner had not publicly responded to the claims at the time reports of the lawsuit emerged.

The case is expected to proceed through the California court system unless resolved through settlement or other legal action.

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