Toukie Smith, Beloved Star and Robert De Niro’s Mysterious Former Partner, Dies at 74—What Really Happened?
Isn’t it wild how some people light up a room just by walking in, while the rest of us are left fumbling with the light switch? That’s exactly the force of nature Toukie Smith was—an absolute original with more charisma in her pinky than most folks muster in a lifetime . Her journey from Philadelphia’s Doris Smith to trailblazing model and iconic actress wasn’t just impressive, it was a masterclass in being unforgettably yourself . Forget keeping up with the spotlight—she wore it like a designer scarf, gracing not only the runways of Chanel, Versace, and Issey Miyake, but also sitcom history with “227.” Even as the world buzzed with gossip about celebrity love stories—hers with Robert De Niro, a headline-maker—Toukie showed us the curious art of fiercely protecting one’s own corner of privacy in a neon world . I can’t help but wonder: When someone’s legacy spans style, screens, and genuine trailblazing, how does one ever fit that into a headline? Maybe you just can’t. To soak up the remarkable details of her life, her dazzling career, and the inspiring courage she showed until the very end—LEARN MORE.
Actress and model Toukie Smith has died at the age of 74, her heartbroken family have confirmed.
Smith’s children Airyn and Julian, who she shared with ex-partner Robert De Niro, confirmed the news in a statement, saying she died after a ‘long, courageous battle’ with multiple sclerosis.
“Toukie was a force of nature,” her children said in a statement shared with Deadline.
“She left an indelible mark on our hearts and on everyone lucky enough to know her.”
She passed away on Wednesday 4 November at a hospital in New York, the family said.
Smith was best-known for her role as Eva Rawley on the NBC sitcom 227, she also appeared in movies including Joe’s Apartment and The Preacher’s Wife.
Away from the screen, Smith had an impressive modelling career, which began in the early 1970s while attending the Fashion Institute of Technology and resulted in her going on to work for some of the biggest names in the industry including such Chanel, Versace Issey Miyake, and Thierry Mugler.
Toukie Smith shared two children with Robert De Niro (Gene Shaw/Getty Images)
She also modelled for her brother the late fashion designer Willi Smith, who tragically died in 1987 aged just 39.
Paying tribute to her work, her children told the Hollywood Reporter that their mum ‘shared in a remarkable family legacy that helped shape American fashion and culture’ adding that ‘her beauty, grace and unmistakable presence helped pave the way for generations of Black models and designers in fashion.’
In 1988 Smith began a relationship with De Niro with the pair going on to welcome two children born in 1995 via in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and delivered by a surrogate mother.
The pair were together for almost a decade before going their separate ways in 1996.
The model was born Doris Smith in Philadelphia in 1952 and said she was given the nickname ‘Toukie’ by her grandmother.
“It was a nickname my grandmother gave me that came from a children’s record about a little red fire engine with lots of energy. I’ve always had lots of energy,” she told the Los Angeles Times in 1990.
Smith had a successful modelling career working for the likes of Chanel and Versace (Anthony Barboza/Getty Images)
Although De Niro was at the height of his fame during their relationship, Smith preferred to remain tight-lipped about her personal life, once telling a reporter: “What’s great about a private life is it’s private.”
Following her death, Smith’s daughter Airyn De Niro has shared a sweet throwback snap of her and her mother alongside the caption: “I’ll always love you, Mom.”
The post has since been flooded with messages of condolence and support.
Her family have confirmed that Smith passed away following a ‘long and courageous battle’ with multiple sclerosis (MS).
MS is a neurological disorder that occurs when the body’s immune system ‘attacks the protective sheath that covers nerve fibres, known as myelin,’ which then ‘interrupts communication between the brain and the rest of the body,’ according to the Mayo Clinic.
The condition does not have a cure, but symptoms, which can include numbness or tingling, lack of coordination and difficulty walking, can be managed.
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