Toukie Smith had an estimated net worth of $3 million at the time of her death in November 2026. The American model, actress and entrepreneur built her wealth through a career that spanned international fashion, television, film and the restaurant business.
Smith rose to prominence during the 1970s and 1980s, working with leading designers such as Hubert de Givenchy, Chanel, Thierry Mugler and Issey Miyake. She also appeared in major fashion magazines, including Vogue, Ebony, Elle and Cosmopolitan. In 1978, Bloomingdale’s named her its Model of the Year.
She later moved into acting, becoming widely recognised for playing Eva Rawley on the NBC sitcom 227. Her television credits also included Miami Vice, while her film appearances included I Like It Like That, Joe’s Apartment and The Preacher’s Wife.
Beyond entertainment, Smith explored entrepreneurship through a catering business and a Manhattan restaurant. She was also known as the younger sister of influential fashion designer Willi Smith and the former longtime partner of actor Robert De Niro. The couple had twins, Julian and Airyn, in 1995.
Smith died on November 4, 2026, at the age of 74, following a lengthy battle with multiple sclerosis. Her death was announced by her children on November 9.
- Toukie Smith Net Worth: $3 Million
- Date of Birth: September 25, 1952
- Place of Birth: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Nationality: American
Early Life
Toukie Smith was born Doris A. Smith on September 25, 1952, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She grew up in a working-class family. Her father worked as a butcher, while her mother was employed in a factory.
She was raised alongside her brothers, Willi and Norman. Her older brother Willi later became one of America’s influential fashion designers, establishing the WilliWear label and helping popularise affordable designer clothing.
Smith’s professional name came from a nickname given to her by her grandmother. The name was inspired by a children’s record about a little red fire engine full of energy. She later adopted Toukie as her public and professional name.
She moved to New York City to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology, where she developed an interest in fashion and design. Her education and family connections helped introduce her to the fashion industry.
Modeling Career
Smith began her professional modeling career in 1972. She quickly gained attention for her distinctive appearance, confident personality and unconventional approach to fashion.
During the 1970s and 1980s, she worked with some of the leading names in the international fashion industry. Her career included collaborations with Givenchy, Chanel, Thierry Mugler, Issey Miyake, Geoffrey Beene, Norma Kamali and Patrick Kelly.
She also appeared in prominent magazines such as Vogue, Elle, Ebony, Cosmopolitan, Redbook and Seventeen. Her work included an advertising campaign for Yves Saint Laurent.
One of her major career achievements came in 1978, when Bloomingdale’s named her Model of the Year. The recognition reflected her growing influence in an industry where Black models were still fighting for greater visibility and opportunities.
Smith also worked with influential photographers, including Jean-Paul Goude and Guy Bourdin. Her willingness to experiment with hairstyles, colours and dramatic clothing helped distinguish her from other models of the period.
Her image became sufficiently recognisable that it was reproduced as a commercial fashion mannequin. This further demonstrated her influence beyond the runway and magazine pages.
Relationship With Fashion Designer Willi Smith
Toukie had a close personal and professional relationship with her older brother, Willi Smith. He became a leading figure in American fashion through his WilliWear label, which helped popularise accessible, colourful and comfortable clothing.
Smith supported her brother’s creative work and modelled some of his designs. She also participated in fashion events connected to his collections.
Willi’s approach to fashion was different from the traditional luxury model. He wanted stylish clothing to reach a wider audience rather than remain limited to wealthy customers. His designs helped establish the idea of street couture, combining everyday fashion with contemporary designer styling.
By the mid-1980s, WilliWear had become a major commercial success, with annual sales reportedly exceeding $25 million.
However, the family suffered a major loss in April 1987 when Willi died at the age of 39 from AIDS-related complications.
His death deeply affected Toukie. She subsequently became involved in activities supporting AIDS awareness and charitable causes. She also participated in events celebrating his contribution to fashion and supporting organisations working with children affected by HIV and AIDS.
Willi’s legacy remained an important part of Toukie’s identity throughout her career.
Acting Career
After establishing herself in modeling, Smith moved into acting during the late 1980s. Her television career introduced her to audiences who may not have followed the fashion industry.
One of her early roles was on NBC’s crime drama Miami Vice. She appeared during the show’s fourth season in 1987 and 1988, playing Angie, an assistant connected to the character Caitlin Davies, portrayed by singer Sheena Easton.
Her best-known television role came in 1989 when she joined the cast of NBC’s sitcom 227.
Smith portrayed Eva Rawley, an artist who became part of the community living in the apartment building at the centre of the show. The sitcom starred Marla Gibbs and followed the lives, relationships and everyday experiences of residents in a Washington, D.C., apartment complex.
Smith appeared during the show’s final seasons, bringing her fashion background and outgoing personality to the role.
Although 227 ended in 1990, its continued television exposure helped keep her performance familiar to audiences.
Film Career
Smith also appeared in several films during the late 1980s and 1990s. Her film work expanded her entertainment career beyond television and modeling.
Her early screen credits included the 1988 comedy Me and Him and the 1991 film Talkin’ Dirty After Dark, which starred comedian Martin Lawrence.
In 1994, she appeared in I Like It Like That, a comedy-drama directed by Darnell Martin. The film followed a young Puerto Rican family living in the Bronx and received attention for its portrayal of working-class life in New York.
In 1996, Smith appeared in Joe’s Apartment, a comedy about a young man living in a New York apartment overrun by cockroaches. The film was based on an earlier short film and was produced by MTV.
She also appeared in The Preacher’s Wife, a 1996 holiday fantasy film starring Whitney Houston and Denzel Washington. Directed by Penny Marshall, the movie became one of her most recognisable film credits.
Her later work included the 1999 comedy Goosed. Although her acting career was shorter than her modeling career, these appearances helped establish her as a performer in her own right.
Restaurant
Smith also explored entrepreneurship through the food and hospitality industry. Her interest in cooking and entertaining led her to establish a catering business in New York during the 1980s.
The business, known as Toukie’s Taste, served private clients and events. It gave her an opportunity to develop a career outside fashion and acting.
She later decided to open a restaurant. In 1994, she launched Toukie’s on West Houston Street in Manhattan.
The restaurant served comfort food and Southern-inspired dishes. Its atmosphere reflected Smith’s colourful personality and her interest in entertaining.
She took an active role in the business, serving as its owner and hostess while remaining involved in its daily operations. The restaurant attracted customers from New York’s fashion, entertainment and arts communities.
Although it did not develop into a large restaurant chain, the venture demonstrated her ability to explore business opportunities beyond the entertainment industry.
Relationship With Robert De Niro and Children
Smith began a relationship with actor Robert De Niro in 1988. The couple became a familiar presence in New York’s entertainment and social circles, although they generally kept details of their private life away from public attention.
Their relationship lasted several years, with reports placing their separation in the mid-1990s. They never married.
On October 20, 1995, Smith and De Niro welcomed twin children, Julian and Airyn. The twins were conceived through in vitro fertilisation and delivered by a surrogate mother.
After their relationship ended, Smith and De Niro remained connected through their children.
Julian later pursued acting, appearing in productions including The First Lady and The Queen’s Gambit. Airyn has also attracted public attention as an adult through interviews discussing her identity and family background.
Smith generally maintained a private lifestyle and rarely discussed her relationship with De Niro in detail. In a 1990 interview with the Los Angeles Times, she explained her preference for privacy, saying, “What’s great about a private life is it’s private.”
Death
Toukie Smith died on November 4, 2026, at a hospital in New York City. She was 74.
Her twin children, Airyn and Julian, announced her death on November 9. They said she had died following a “long, courageous battle” with multiple sclerosis.
Her death came nearly four decades after the loss of her brother Willi, whose influence helped shape her early connection to fashion.
Smith’s career covered several creative industries. She worked with leading fashion designers, appeared in international magazines, built a television and film career and operated a restaurant in Manhattan.
Although her relationship with Robert De Niro brought additional public attention, she had established herself as a successful model long before they became a couple.
Author: Andrew Walyaula
Andrew Walyaula is a seasoned multimedia journalist. Email: [email protected]
