Stevie Wonder's "heart is broken" following the death of Malcolm-Jamal Warner

He told TMZ: "My heart is broken because not only was he a talented man growing up and doing The Cosby Show, but even more important his commitment was telling the story, the truth.

"And for me, in a time where we have so many in high places telling low-down lies, we need the truth. So yeah, I miss him.

"I hope that the writers, the singers, rappers will begin to spread messages of positivity, of hope, and us moving this world forward. I'm quiet, but my heart is hurting."

Wonder went on to make a cultural comparison between Warner and West African traditions.

He said: "I don't know if you know what a 'grio' is, a 'griot.' It's like the African who told the stories in the various villages would have the griot. Whenever a griot would die, it would be like a whole library of information burning."

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary,: "An African tribal storyteller and musician is called a griot. The griot's role was to preserve the genealogies and oral traditions of the tribe."

Wonder made a memorable appearance with Warner in an episode of the The Cosby Show in 1986, in which he played himself and found himself in a car accident with Denise (Lisa Bonet).

Warner and the rest of the cast then joined Wonder for a performance of I Just Called to Say I Love You.

Warner died near Cocles, a beach in Limon, Costa Rica, after getting caught by a rip current.

According to police, he was rescued by onlookers who took him to shore, where he received treatment, but he was dec lared dead by the Costa Rican Red Cross.