Toukie Smith dies at 74 after multiple sclerosis battle
Smith, a pioneering Black model and actress, died in New York Hospital on November 4 from multiple sclerosis.
Toukie Smith, born Doris A. Smith, has died at 74 following a long illness from multiple sclerosis, a condition that damages the nervous system. Toukie Smith passed away on November 4 in a New York hospital.
Toukie Smith's twin children, Airyn and Julian, both 31, confirmed the news. Smith shared the twins with actor Robert De Niro, though the pair never married and separated in 1996.
She built a five-decade career as a model for high-fashion brands including Chanel, Versace, and YSL, and worked as an actress in the 1980s and 1990s. Her brother Willi Smith was a celebrated African-American fashion designer.
Her children remembered her for her grace and the path she paved for Black models and designers in the industry.
- 74
- Age at death
- November 4
- Date of death
- 54 years
- Career span
- Twins Airyn and Julian, both 31
- Children
Why it mattersSmith broke barriers for Black representation in high fashion during a pivotal era when few Black models worked for luxury brands.
AustraliaNo direct Australian effect, though her fashion legacy shaped global industry standards that Australian designers and models work within today.
