In this piece, HuffPost culture reporter Njera Perkins interviewed actor Nadji Jeter, who co-starred opposite late actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner in BET’s “Reed Between the Lines.” Jeter shares a touching story about his relationship with Warner, who died earlier this month. This as-told-to interview has been edited for clarity.
The day I met Malcolm-Jamal Warner, I had to have been 13 or 14. We were doing the auditions and the pilot for “Reed Between the Lines,” which premiered on BET in 2011. I had a bunch of energy because I already knew what they were looking for, and also I was excited about the family aspect: him being a dad and me being the first son that he’s ever had. He really took me under his wing and took that father role to another level.
The first time I met Malcolm, I was nervous. Of course, I was a fan of his from “The Cosby Show.” I mean, who isn’t? But also, I found out he was from Jersey, and I have extended family there, so we clicked off that. But our bond strengthened in Atlanta when we got to film the show. That’s when we really got to know each other.
We would have days of us just joking around on set. When I found out he did music and wrote poetry and also played the bass guitar, it blew my mind. Growing up in Atlanta, I was heavy into music, too, so that was our connection outside the set. Every time a cut would come on, I’d ask him about my music, like, “How would you better this?” He was helping me grow mentally. He would take me to music festivals, nightclubs, and show me the ropes of his act as a musician.
Malcolm and I had a similar background of being raised by a single mom and not really having that father influence. So when he came into my life, he really took on a father figure role on and off camera. He got connected with my mom, and she would go to him for advice. His mom, Ms. Pam, would grab me and hug me up in her arms, and give me advice, too, so we all had that connection.
But Malcolm, man, he showed me how to become a man in this industry: how to keep your integrity, how to keep your focus and maintain good balance with everything. That was the No. 1 thing. He’s been there since day one. He’s seen everything that I’ve dealt with in my personal life, and he’s helped me out ― even gave some lectures, too. It’s been an honor just to have that.
Like I said, he took that father role on “Reed Between the Lines” to another level with me. It was crazy because we were both getting used to it. I’m not used to having a dad, and you could tell the same for him, because he didn’t have kids yet. It was a learning experience for both of us, but we had fun in that development.
We went on for two seasons. We had a lot of jokes, a lot of good-ass times just being on set together and me growing up. He’s seen me before, during and after puberty. He actually guided me and showed me the way to keep my head on straight.
After the show ended, we would keep in contact with each other. He called me “Ill Knowledge” — that was his name for me. We both had busy schedules because we continued with industry stuff, but whenever it’s that time to sit down and chop it up with your family, you do it.
The world loved Malcolm. I got to see that just by going out with him to festivals and music spots when he would perform. He brought warmth and joy to the world with “The Cosby Show.” Seeing a beautiful family on a TV show can really help you through a lot.
It doesn’t matter if you grew up in a single-parent household or what, you could turn on that show and just feel warmth. He was part of a legacy that will always be known.
I still can’t process the fact that he’s really gone.
Growing up and still being able to call him whenever I could, and then to get that news was just … I’m still in disbelief.
Malcolm became big bro, and he was like a father figure. He became everything.
I was still looking up to him and showing him my new music. He was telling me, like, “OK, you’re getting better.” You know, it was always a growth thing with him. And every time I would see him, it was like no time had passed. So this really, really hurts.
But I know he’s jamming up there. He’s waiting for me.