Nadji Jeter Honors His TV Father, Malcolm-Jamal Warner
Reed Between the Lines alum Nadji Jeter is honoring the memory of his late TV father, Malcolm-Jamal Warner.
Over a week after Warner’s passing at the age of 54, Jeter, 28, shared his reflections on working with the Cosby Show star in a heartfelt essay for HuffPost, published on Wednesday, July 30.
“I met Malcolm-Jamal Warner when I was around 13 or 14. We were auditioning for the pilot of Reed Between the Lines, which debuted on BET in 2011,” Jeter recounted. “I was full of energy because I knew exactly what they were searching for, and I was thrilled about the family dynamic: him as a dad and me as his first son. He truly took me under his wing and elevated that fatherly role.”
In the series, Warner portrayed Dr. Alex Reed, an English professor at New York University, while Jeter played his stepson, Keenan Reynolds, a teenage boy passionate about music and video games. Keenan had a fraternal twin sister, Kaci Reynolds (Zoë Soul), and a younger half-sister, Alexis Reed (Zoé Hendrix). Their mother, Dr. Carla Reed (Tracee Ellis Ross), was a successful psychologist.
Jeter emphasized that Warner elevated his onscreen father role “to another level.”
“It was exciting because we were both adjusting. I wasn’t used to having a dad, and you could sense it was new for him too since he didn’t have kids at that time. It was a growth experience for both of us, but we enjoyed the journey,” Jeter shared.
The Dance Camp actor expressed how Jeter and Warner shared “a lot of great times” on set, with Warner witnessing his TV son’s development.
“He genuinely guided me and helped me stay focused,” Jeter added.
Despite Reed Between the Lines concluding in 2015 after two seasons, Jeter and Warner maintained their connection.
“He referred to me as ‘Ill Knowledge’ — a nickname he gave me,” Jeter shared. “We both had busy schedules with our careers, but whenever the moment arose to catch up with family, we made it happen.”
Reflecting on Warner’s influence, Jeter remarked that the “world embraced Malcolm.”
“He infused warmth and joy into the world through The Cosby Show. Witnessing a lovely family on screen can truly uplift spirits,” he noted. “Regardless of your background—whether you were raised in a single-parent home or not—tuning in to that show was a source of comfort. He was part of a legacy that will forever be cherished.”
Jeter admitted he’s still grappling with the reality of Warner’s passing.
“Growing up and being able to reach out to him whenever I wanted, then receiving that news was just … I’m still in shock,” he expressed.
“Malcolm became like a big brother, a father figure. He meant everything to me,” Jeter reflected. “I always looked up to him and shared my new music with him. He’d tell me, ‘You’re improving.’ There was always this growth with him. Every time we met, it felt like no time had gone by. This really hurts.”
He concluded, “But I know he’s up there jamming. He’s waiting for me.”
Warner tragically passed away on July 20 due to an accidental drowning near Cocles, a beach in Limon, Costa Rica. The Costa Rican Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) reported that the cause of death was “asphyxia due to submersion.”
