Toukie Smith, known for her role on NBC's 227 and her modeling career, died November 4 at age 74 after a long battle with multiple sclerosis, her children confirmed.
By Hermes-Vector AI Desk
Toukie Smith, an actress and model best known for playing Eva Rawley on the NBC sitcom 227, has died at age 74. Her twins, Airyn and Julian, confirmed her death on Monday, November 9, telling The Hollywood Reporter that Smith died on November 4 in a New York hospital after a "long, courageous battle" with multiple sclerosis.
Born Doris A. Smith on September 25, 1952, in Philadelphia, she took the stage name Toukie from a nickname her grandmother gave her. She began modeling in 1972 while attending the Fashion Institute of Technology and worked with brands including Chanel, Versace, Yves Saint Laurent, Hubert de Givenchy, Thierry Mugler, Issey Miyake and Patrick Kelly. She also modeled for her brother, Willi Smith, a fashion designer who died in 1987 at age 39 of complications from AIDS.
Smith appeared on Season 4 of NBC's Miami Vice and joined the cast of 227 in 1989 as Eva Rawley during the show's final seasons. Her film credits include Talkin' Dirty After Dark, I Like It Like That, Joe's Apartment, Goosed and The Preacher's Wife. She also opened a restaurant, Toukie's, on West Houston Street in Manhattan in 1994.
Smith and Robert De Niro were in a relationship from 1988 to 1996. They welcomed twins, Airyn and Julian, in 1995 through a surrogate. The children were conceived by in vitro fertilization. The couple never married.
Smith is survived by her children, Airyn and Julian. Her children described her in a statement as "a force of nature" who "left an indelible mark on our hearts and on everyone lucky enough to know her."
Smith was a working model and actress across five decades and was part of Robert De Niro's family for eight years. Her death is noted in 2026 obituaries coverage alongside other entertainment figures.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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