Toukie Smith Dies at 74: '227' Actress and Trailblazing Model Remembered

Toukie Smith, the celebrated runway model who became a familiar face on American television as Eva Rawley on the NBC sitcom 227, has died at the age of 74, her family announced on Monday, November 9, 2026.

Quick answer: Toukie Smith died on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at a hospital in New York City after a long, courageous battle with multiple sclerosis. Her twin children, Airyn and Julian De Niro, whom she shared with former partner Robert De Niro, confirmed the news to The Hollywood Reporter on Monday, November 9.

< h2>A trailblazing career on the runway

Born Doris Smith on September 25, 1952, in Philadelphia, Toukie Smith began modeling in 1972 and quickly became one of the top Black models of the 1970s. She worked with the era's most celebrated designers, including Givenchy, Chanel, Issey Miyake, Thierry Mugler, Norma Kamali and Versace, and appeared in the pages of Ebony, Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Redbook and Seventeen.

In 1978, Bloomingdale's named her its model of the year, a recognition of her standing at the top of the fashion world. Smith was among the pioneering Black models who broke barriers on international runways at a time when the industry offered far fewer opportunities to women of color, and her work helped open doors for the generations that followed.

From the runway to 227

Smith moved into acting in the late 1980s. In 1989, she joined the cast of NBC's sitcom 227 as Eva Rawley, an artist who moves into the building at the center of the series, starring alongside Marla Gibbs. She recurred on the comedy during its final two seasons, through May 1990, bringing warmth and personality to the role.

Her screen credits also included an appearance on Miami Vice and roles in films such as I Like It Like That, Joe's Apartment and The Preacher's Wife. 227, led by Marla Gibbs, holds a special place in Black television history, and Smith's appearance gave fans another way to enjoy a talent they had first seen in fashion. For more on the stars who shaped classic television, see our celebrity and entertainment coverage.

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Family, and a long battle with multiple sclerosis

Smith was the former partner of Oscar-winning actor Robert De Niro, with whom she was in a relationship from 1988 to 1996. Together they had twins, Airyn and Julian De Niro, born in 1995. It was Airyn and Julian who announced their mother's death on Monday, telling The Hollywood Reporter that she died after a "long, courageous battle" with multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease in which the immune system attacks the protective sheath that covers nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord, according to the Mayo Clinic. The reports published on Monday did not say when Smith was diagnosed with the illness.

Tributes poured in across entertainment and fashion on Monday as news of her death spread, with colleagues and fans remembering a model who carried herself with elegance on the runway and a warmth on screen that made Eva Rawley a beloved part of 227's final seasons.

Related: Sebastián Lelio Dies at 52: Oscar-Winning 'A Fantastic Woman' Director Found Dead at Santiago Home

Frequently Asked Questions

How did Toukie Smith die?

Toukie Smith died on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at a hospital in New York City, at the age of 74, after a long, courageous battle with multiple sclerosis, according to her twin children, Airyn and Julian De Niro.

Who announced Toukie Smith's death?

Her death was announced on Monday, November 9, 2026, by her twin children, Airyn and Julian De Niro, whom she shared with former partner Robert De Niro. The family confirmed the news to The Hollywood Reporter, and it was also reported by People and USA Today.

What was Toukie Smith best known for?

Smith was best known as one of the top runway models of the 1970s, working with designers including Chanel, Givenchy, Issey Miyake and Thierry Mugler, and as Eva Rawley on the NBC sitcom 227, which she joined in 1989 for the show's final two seasons.

What is multiple sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease affecting the central nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord. It occurs when the immune system attacks the protective sheath that covers nerve fibers, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Was Toukie Smith married to Robert De Niro?

No. Smith and Robert De Niro were partners from 1988 to 1996 and never married. They had twins together, Airyn and Julian De Niro, born in 1995.

What movies did Toukie Smith appear in?

Her film credits included I Like It Like That, Joe's Apartment and The Preacher's Wife. She also appeared on television in Miami Vice and, most famously, as Eva Rawley on 227.