Malcolm-Jamal Warner ‘Did Not Suffer’ When He Died, Says His Mom Pamela: ‘This Was His Time’

Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s mother Pamela Warner is taking solace in knowing that her son “did not suffer” in his final moments.

Pamela shared an emotional message on Aug. 8 on the newly-launched “Malcolm-Jamal Warner Living Legacy” Instagram account and reflected on her son’s sudden death at age 54 while he was on a family vacation in Costa Rica on July 20.

“For those of you who are at a loss, pained by the suddenness of his departure, ache for his presence or just to hear his voice one more time, to see his beatific smile one more time, be comforted that he was at peace and more importantly, he did not suffer,” she wrote. 

“Malcolm was birthed through water and transitioned through water,” she added. “This was his time. His mission on earth had been completed.”

She encouraged loved ones and fans to “hold close to whatever part of Malcolm’s life that touched yours.”

“In keeping it near, you keep his spirit alive — nourishing you with the peace, love, joy and light that embodied Malcolm-Jamal Warner,” she added.

Pamela also remembered The Cosby Show alum as an “exceptional husband, father, and son — a man deeply in love with life, his wife, and his daughter.”

“He was not only my son, but also my teacher, coach, confidant, business partner, and best friend. He was the son that his father was immensely proud of and loved fiercely and unconditionally,” she wrote.

She looked back on how he loved “the magic of being an actor” and noted how he was “always studying and honing his craft.” Pamela also mentioned how Malcolm became a musician “a little later in life, at 26,” but “excelled as a bassist and formed his own band, Miles Long.”

With his accomplishments in the entertainment industry, she said, “Malcolm left an indelible mark on the world and on countless hearts. All who met him, however briefly, were better for the encounter.”

Pamela’s post came two days after she started the “Malcolm-Jamal Warner Living Legacy” Instagram account. 

“This is the official account honoring Malcolm-Jamal Warner, lovingly run by his mother, Pamela Warner,” she wrote in the account’s first post alongside a picture of the late actor smiling.

“In the weeks and months ahead, we’ll be sharing updates on the work being done in his memory,” she added. “Thank you for being here and staying connected,” 

PEOPLE has learned that an upcoming tribute event is being planned for Malcolm at the end of the year or early 2026. More details are expected to be shared in the weeks and months to come.

Malcolm drowned while swimming on a family vacation in Costa Rica on July 20.

A source later told PEOPLE that Warner was body surfing in the water during a family trip in Costa Rica at the time of his death, and a day later, the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) confirmed to PEOPLE that the actor died from accidental asphyxiation by submersion.

The OIJ told PEOPLE on July 24 in a statement that Malcolm’s daughter was not in the water with him when he drowned.

“Mr. Warner was playing with his daughter at the seashore at one point. He then left her out of the water, and he and a friend of his entered the sea,” the statement from the OIJ, translated from Spanish to English, read.

“It was at that moment that they were swept away by the current, and the friend managed to get out,” the statement continued. “However, Mr. Warner was unable to get out and was pulled out by several people on the beach. He received care from Red Cross officials, but was pronounced dead at the scene.”

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Malcolm is survived by a wife and daughter, whose identities he opted to keep private.