Toukie Smith spent decades building a name in American fashion and entertainment, long before her relationship with Robert De Niro made her a familiar figure in celebrity news. Now, the former model and actress has died at 74 after battling multiple sclerosis, leaving behind a career that stretched from major fashion magazines to popular television shows.
Smith died on November 4 at a New York City hospital. Her twin children, Airyn and Julian De Niro, confirmed the news on November 9, saying she had faced a “long, courageous battle” with multiple sclerosis. The family has not disclosed the name of the hospital.
In announcing her death, the twins spoke about their mother’s influence on fashion, culture and the people around her. They described her as “a force of nature” and said she had left an indelible mark on their hearts and on everyone fortunate enough to know her.
Smith’s journey began in the fashion industry in 1972. Born Doris Smith in Philadelphia in 1952, she attended the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York before pursuing modeling. It did not take long for her to gain recognition, as she began working with major designers and appearing in leading fashion publications.
Her photographs appeared in magazines such as Vogue, Cosmopolitan and Seventeen. She also worked on a campaign for Yves Saint Laurent, adding another major fashion name to her growing list of professional achievements. In 1978, Bloomingdale’s named her its Model of the Year, a major recognition of her standing in the industry.
Fashion was not the only part of her family’s story. Smith was the sister of Willi Smith, the influential American designer whose work helped bring stylish clothing to a wider market. Her children pointed to that family connection in their tribute, saying their mother shared in a legacy that helped shape American fashion and culture.
Smith eventually took her talents to television. In 1989, she joined the cast of NBC’s “227,” the sitcom led by Marla Gibbs. She played Eva Rawley, an artist who moved into the Lexington Place apartment building. Her appearance during the show’s final two seasons introduced her to viewers who may not have known about her earlier success in modeling.
She also appeared in several episodes of NBC’s “Miami Vice” during its fourth season. Smith played Angie, an assistant to singer Caitlin Davies, portrayed by Sheena Easton. Her other acting credits included “Talkin’ Dirty After Dark,” “I Like It Like That,” “Joe’s Apartment” and “The Preacher’s Wife.”
Her personal life later became another subject of public interest when she began dating Robert De Niro in 1988. Their relationship lasted nearly eight years, and the former couple welcomed twins, Airyn and Julian, in October 1995 through a surrogate.
Smith and De Niro separated around 1996. Despite the end of their romantic relationship, they remained connected through their children. The former couple largely kept their private affairs away from public attention, although they were occasionally photographed together at public events.
At the time of their separation, De Niro’s representative said they planned to maintain separate personal and professional lives while continuing to raise their children together. Smith’s representative also indicated that the former couple still shared a strong bond.
For her children, however, their mother’s story goes well beyond her famous former partner. In their statement, they praised her beauty, grace and unmistakable presence, saying she helped pave the way for generations of Black models and designers.
Airyn also paid tribute to her mother, writing, “I’ll always love you, Mom.” It was a brief message that captured the personal loss behind the public announcement.
Smith’s career took her from modeling assignments and major fashion campaigns to television and film. She was known to many through her work on “227,” while others remembered her for her place in the fashion industry. Her children now carry her family legacy forward, remembering a woman whose influence was felt both at home and throughout the entertainment and fashion worlds.