(NewsNation<\/a>) \u2014 Malcolm-Jamal Warner\u2019s<\/a> final television appearance is being called \u201cmagical\u201d by the show\u2019s creator. <\/p>\n Ian Weir, who created the Fox series \u201cMurder in a Small Town,\u201d spoke to TVLine<\/a> about Warner\u2019s guest appearance on the show, which airs Tuesday, Oct. 7. <\/p>\n Dwayne Johnson reacts as Taylor Swift beats \u2018The Smashing Machine\u2019 <\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI was thrilled, of course, when he agreed to do the role,\u201d Weir said. \u201cI hadn\u2019t quite let myself dare hope that someone of his stature would take this particular role, just because it wasn\u2019t conceived as one of those big flashy guest star roles.\u201d<\/p>\n FILE \u2013 Malcolm-Jamal Warner arrives at the 65th annual Grammy Awards, Feb. 5, 2023, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss\/Invision\/AP, File)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n LOS ANGELES, CA \u2013 FEBRUARY 08: Actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner (R) and Pamela Warner attend The 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards at the STAPLES Center on February 8, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz\/WireImage)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n According to the episode\u2019s logline, Warner plays Richard Bannister, a\u00a0protective father who becomes a lead suspect in a\u00a0murder\u00a0investigation when his ex-wife is killed just after returning to town. Still heartbroken years after the split, Richard wears his anger and pain on his sleeve, but his only goal in life is to keep his daughter safe.<\/p>\n The \u201cMurder in the Small Town\u201d creator said Warner was able to channel the \u201cquiet, intense integrity\u201d that the role required. <\/p>\n Amazon Prime Big Deal Days<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n \u2014 Prime Big Deal Days is here \u2014 the top deals hand chosen by editors <\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 We\u2019re anticipating great Prime Big Deal Days deals on big-ticket items<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Under-$100 deals are always massive on Prime Big Deal Days <\/a><\/p>\n BestReviews is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission.<\/em><\/p>\n Robin Williams\u2019 daughter pleads with fans to stop sending AI videos <\/a><\/p>\n \u201cHe became the emotional heart of the episode in quite a magical way,\u201d Weir said, calling \u201cThe Resident\u201d star \u201cextraordinary.\u201d<\/p>\n Warner died in July<\/a> in an accidental drowning after getting caught in a current at Playa Cocles in Costa Rica. He was 54. <\/p>\n He was in the Central American country because his daughter was taking part in an educational immersion program, his mother Pamela Warner said.<\/a> <\/p>\n Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.<\/i><\/p>\n\n
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\nMalcolm-Jamal Warner dies at 54<\/h2>\n