Toukie Smith, a model and actress known for playing Eva Rawley on the NBC sitcom 227, has died. She was 74.
Smith passed away on Nov. 4 at a hospital in New York following a “long, courageous battle” with multiple sclerosis, her twins Airyn and Julian De Niro, said in a Nov. 9 statement to The Hollywood Reporter. The siblings are her children with former partner Robert De Niro.
Smith and De Niro dated from 1988 to 1996. They welcomed their children in 1995.
Following her death, the twins paid tribute to their mother’s influence on the fashion industry, saying her “beauty, grace and unmistakable presence helped pave the way for generations of Black models and designers in fashion.”
On Instagram, Airyn shared a childhood photo with Smith and included the caption: “I’ll always love you, Mom.”
Born Doris Smith on Sept. 25, 1952, in Philadelphia, she adopted the moniker Toukie from a nickname inspired by her grandmother.
According to THR, Smith attended the Fashion Institute of Technology and began modeling in 1972. She appeared on the pages of Vogue and Ebony, and worked for designers including Hubert de Givenchy, Thierry Mugler and Issey Miyake.
Smith also modeled for her brother, fashion designer Willi Smith, who died in 1987.
She later moved into acting, appearing on the television series Miami Vice before joining 227 in 1989. She played Eva, an artist who befriended Mary Jenkins, played by Marla Gibbs.
Smith’s film credits included I Like It Like That (1994), The Preacher’s Wife (1996) and Goosed (1999).
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