Toukie Smith Dies at 74: The Trailblazing Supermodel and ‘227’ Star Who Shared Twins With Robert De Niro

Toukie Smith dies at 74. The model and actress helped define 1970s fashion. Later, she became a familiar face on American television. Her twin children, Airyn and Julian De Niro, confirmed the news on Monday, November 9. They said their mother died on Wednesday, November 4, at a hospital in New York. She had battled multiple sclerosis for years.

The family called her illness a “long, courageous battle.” The news reached the public through The Hollywood Reporter and People. Smith had kept her health struggle private. So the announcement shocked fans who knew her from the runway and from NBC’s 227.

Toukie Smith Dies at 74: What We Know So Far

Smith died at 74 after living with multiple sclerosis. The disease affects the brain and spinal cord. Her children, now 31, shared the announcement. They asked for privacy as they grieve. No funeral or memorial details have been shared yet. Robert De Niro has not made a public statement. We will update this story as new details emerge.

A Trailblazing Runway Career in the 1970s

Toukie was born Doris A. Smith in Philadelphia on September 25, 1952. Her grandmother gave her the nickname Toukie. She began modeling in 1972. Within a few years, she ranked among the top Black models of the decade. She walked for Hubert de Givenchy, Thierry Mugler, Issey Miyake and Patrick Kelly. She also worked with Chanel and Versace. In 1978, Bloomingdale’s named her Model of the Year.

Her fashion story ran in the family. Her older brother, Willi Smith, built WilliWear into a major American fashion label. He died in 1987 at 39 from AIDS-related complications. After his death, Toukie helped keep his memory alive. She set up a foundation in his name. It promotes AIDS awareness in inner-city schools and hospitals.

From the Runway to 227 and the Big Screen

Smith left full-time modeling in the early 1980s. Then she turned to acting. She appeared in three episodes of Miami Vice in 1987 and 1988. She played Angie, assistant to pop singer Caitlin Davies. Sheena Easton played Davies. In 1989, Smith joined NBC’s 227 as Eva Rawley. Eva was an artist who moved into the Lexington Place apartment building. Marla Gibbs played the building’s landlord, Mary Jenkins. Smith stayed with the sitcom through its final two seasons. The show ended in May 1990.

Her film work followed the same path. She appeared in Talkin’ Dirty After Dark (1991) and I Like It Like That (1994). In 1996, she appeared in two more films: Joe’s Apartment and The Preacher’s Wife. The second film starred Whitney Houston. For many viewers, though, Eva Rawley stayed her signature role. And 227 still holds a special place in Black television history.

Toukie Smith, Robert De Niro and Their Twins

Away from work, Smith shared a long relationship with Robert De Niro. The pair were together from 1988 to 1996. In October 1995, they welcomed twins, Airyn and Julian. The twins were conceived through in vitro fertilization. A surrogate carried them. The children grew up largely outside the spotlight. Still, their father’s fame kept the family in public view.

In April 2025, Airyn spoke publicly about her identity as a transgender woman. She gave an interview to Them. In it, she credited the Black women in her life, including her mother, with shaping who she is. De Niro voiced his support at the time. “I love all my children,” he said. The moment gave the public a rare glimpse of the family’s private bond.

Toukie Smith’s Legacy: Why She Mattered

Smith’s legacy rests on two firsts. First, she modeled at the highest level at a time when Black women rarely held that space. She did it with a style that designers chased. Second, she crossed from fashion into television without losing her identity. Her turn on 227 made her a household face. Meanwhile, her work after her brother’s death showed a quieter kind of influence. She pushed AIDS awareness into schools and hospitals that needed it most.

Her death also closes a chapter for 227 fans. The show’s reruns still introduce Eva Rawley to new viewers. Clips of her scenes have already started circulating online since the news broke. In addition, her story adds to a painful year for entertainment. We have added Smith to our running list of the stars we lost in 2026. Toukie Smith dies at 74. Her death arrived on the same day the music world mourned First Choice singer Rochelle Fleming. Fleming died at 72.

What Happens Next

Tributes from the fashion world, her 227 co-stars and De Niro’s circle are expected in the coming days. The tributes echo the wave of affection that followed our recent remembrance of Eric Dane. That piece marked what would have been his 54th birthday. We will update this article as the family shares memorial plans. For now, fans remember a model who broke barriers. They remember an actress who made audiences laugh. And they remember a mother whose children shared her story with grace.

Toukie Smith: A Life in Dates

Sources

• The Hollywood Reporter — Mike Barnes, “Toukie Smith, Top Runway Model and ‘227’ Actress, Dies at 74” (family confirmation)
• People — report on the family’s announcement
• Parade — “Robert De Niro’s Former Partner Toukie Smith, ‘227’ Actress, Dies at 74”
• Just Jared — “Toukie Smith Passes Away at 74”
• Fashion Sizzle — “Toukie Smith, Acclaimed Runway Model and 227 Actress, Dies at 74”

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