Malcolm-Jamal Warner leaves behind a lasting legacy in the wake of his tragic passing, and also holds a special place in Live history.

In the midst of “a lot of sad news in the news,” Kelly Ripa mourned the Cosby Show alum’s death at age 54 on Tuesday’s Live with Kelly and Mark,.

“I cannot believe this, because [Live EP Michael] Gelman was telling me backstage that the very first episode of this show, Malcolm-Jamal Warner was a guest on,” she shared.

Mark Consuelos echoed, “We were talking about this yesterday.”

Viewers were treated to a clip of Warner joining co-hosts Regis Philbin and Kathie Lee Gifford on Live‘s Sept. 5, 1988 episode, which marked the first episode of Live with Regis and Kathie Lee

Ripa added, “He shockingly and sadly and devastatingly was caught in this surprise high current in Costa Rica, and died as a complication of that.”

As Ripa noted, Warner “died of asphyxia,” and “bystanders pulled him out of the water.” The Associated Press reports that he drowned on Sunday afternoon (July 20).

Ripa continued, “It’s just so sad and crushing, and you don’t realize… I literally, even though I didn’t know him, grew up with this man. We were 14 years old together. Only he was a big TV star, and I was watching him.”

She praised the 80s sitcom as “so singular in its presence,” and noted that she’s “followed [Warner’s] entire career and just always really, really had a fondness for him.”

“I feel like a piece of all of us passed away,” she said.

Others who have paid tribute to Warner since the news of his passing broke on Monday include his 9-1-1 co-star Angela Bassett, as well as Emily VanCamp, Morris Chestnut, and Shaunette Renée Wilson, who starred alongside him on The Resident.

Live with Kelly and Mark airs on weekdays. Check out their website for your local listings.