Phylicia Rashad Honors TV Son Malcolm-Jamal Warner for Emmys 2025 Emotional In Memoriam Tribute

Presented alongside a heartfelt performance from Lainey Wilson & Vince Gill, the Emmys 2025 ceremony paid tribute to many of TV’s brightest stars who have died this year including Warner

Phyllicia Rashad pays tribute to Malcolm-Jamal Warner during the 2025 Emmys.

Some of TV’s brightest stars were remembered during the 77th annual Primetime Emmy Awards.

Taking a pause from celebration amid the Nate Bargatze-hosted gathering on Sunday, Sept. 14, the Television Academy honored talent who died ahead of the 2025 ceremony as part of its “In Memoriam” segment.

Phylicia Rashad took the stage to honor her Cosby Show TV son, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, with a heartfelt tribute nearly two months after his death.

“He was a beloved teenager in an iconic television series with a world-watched role. And like all our friends and colleagues who transitioned this past year, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, remains in our hearts,” she shared.

“Tonight, as is tradition at the Emmys, we remember them, not just for their immense talent, but also for the way they’ve made us believe in something bigger, the best that is within us,” she continued.

“And even though they may no longer be here with us, we can all smile knowing that their impact will remain, knowing that their lasting impressions will continue to live on through story, knowing that they touched our lives.”

“Whether you grew up watching them or have just now discovered their brilliance, their life remains in the very fabric of our industry,” she concluded.

The segment also included an emotional performance from Lainey Wilson and Vince Gill to Gill’s ballad “Go Rest High on That Mountain.”

Other stars the segment paid tribute to included John Amos, Maggie Smith, David Lynch, Linda Lavin and  Quincy Jones.

Among the biggest deaths to occur in 2025 was Warner, who died in July at age 54.

PEOPLE confirmed that the Cosby Show alum was in Costa Rica on a family vacation. He had drowned while swimming.

“Needless to say our hearts are heavy with the loss of Malcolm,” his mother, Pamela Warner, shared on Instagram, calling her son “a kind, loving man with a huge heart for humanity.”

“Malcolm left an indelible mark on the world and on countless hearts,” she added. “All who met him, however briefly, were better for the encounter.”

Malcolm-Jamal Warner visits SiriusXM Studios on June 11, 2024 in New York City.

Hollywood also mourned the loss of Trachtenberg, who died in February, following complications from diabetes mellitus. She was 39.

The Gossip Girl actress had undergone a liver transplant months before her death.

Michelle Trachtenberg attends the 28th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party sponsored by IMDb, Neuro Drinks and Walmart on February 09, 2020.

See PEOPLE’s full coverage of the 77th annual Primetime Emmy Awards as they’re broadcasting live on CBS and Paramount+ from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.