Toukie Smith’s children, twins Airyn and Julian De Niro, have drawn renewed public attention following reports of the actress and former model’s passing in November 2026. Smith, best known for playing Eva Rawley on the NBC sitcom 227, shared her two children with Academy Award-winning actor Robert De Niro. The twins were born on October 20, 1995, during the couple’s eight-year relationship.
Smith and De Niro dated from 1988 until 1996 but never married. Although their relationship attracted considerable media coverage, they generally kept their children’s upbringing private. Airyn and Julian have since pursued different paths, with Julian entering acting and Airyn speaking publicly about her identity and personal experiences.
Who Are Toukie Smith’s Children?
Toukie Smith had two children, twins Airyn De Niro and Julian Henry De Niro, with her former partner Robert De Niro. Both were born on October 20, 1995, through in vitro fertilization and surrogacy.
The twins turned 31 in October 2026, shortly before their mother’s passing. They are Smith’s only publicly known children and two of Robert De Niro’s seven children.
Smith and De Niro began dating in 1988 and remained together until 1996. Although they never married, they shared parental responsibilities following their separation.
Both parents made efforts to protect the twins from excessive media attention during childhood. Smith was particularly private about her personal relationships and rarely discussed her children in interviews.
Julian De Niro Followed His Parents Into Entertainment
Julian Henry De Niro pursued an acting career, following his father’s established presence in Hollywood and his mother’s work in television and film.
He appeared in the 2016 film In Dubious Battle, directed by James Franco. The production featured actors including Franco, Selena Gomez, Nat Wolff and Robert Duvall.
Julian later portrayed a young Barack Obama in the Showtime anthology series The First Lady, which premiered in April 2022.
The series explored the lives of several American first ladies, including Michelle Obama, portrayed by Viola Davis.
Despite entering the entertainment industry, Julian has maintained a relatively private personal life. He rarely discusses his family relationships publicly and has generally avoided extensive media interviews.
His involvement in acting continues the family’s connection to Hollywood, where both his parents established successful careers.
Airyn De Niro Has Spoken About Her Identity and Family
Airyn De Niro attracted public attention in April 2025 after discussing her identity as a transgender woman in an interview.
She spoke about growing up with famous parents and the importance of developing an identity separate from their public careers.
Airyn credited both Smith and De Niro with protecting her privacy during childhood.
“I am grateful that both my parents agreed to keep me out of the limelight. They have told me they wanted me to have as much of a normal childhood as possible,” she said.
Robert De Niro publicly expressed support for his daughter following the interview.
“I loved and supported Aaron as my son, and now I love and support Airyn as my daughter. I don’t know what the big deal is … I love all my children,” the actor said.
Airyn has also expressed an interest in acting and modeling, drawing inspiration from her mother’s career in fashion.
Toukie Smith’s Children Confirmed Her Passing
Airyn and Julian confirmed their mother’s passing in a statement released on November 9, 2026.
Smith died on November 4 at a New York hospital following a prolonged battle with multiple sclerosis. She was 74.
In their statement, the twins said, “Toukie was a force of nature. She left an indelible mark on our hearts and on everyone lucky enough to know her.”
The siblings also recognized their mother’s contribution to American fashion and her influence on generations of Black models and designers.
Airyn separately shared a photograph with her mother on Instagram, accompanied by the message, “I’ll always love you, Mom.”
The announcement brought renewed attention to Smith’s career, which began in modeling during the 1970s and later included appearances in Miami Vice, 227 and The Preacher’s Wife.
Toukie Smith’s Family and Robert De Niro’s Other Children
Through their father, Airyn and Julian have five half-siblings: Drena, Raphael, Elliot, Helen Grace and Gia Virginia.
De Niro shares Drena and Raphael with his former wife Diahnne Abbott. He shares Elliot and Helen Grace with his second wife, Grace Hightower, and welcomed Gia with Tiffany Chen in April 2023.
Smith also came from a prominent creative family. Her older brother, Willi Smith, was an influential American fashion designer who founded the WilliWear label. He died in 1987.
Smith’s surviving relatives include her brother Norman Smith-Harllee and nephew Eliazar Smith-Harllee.
As of November 10, 2026, Airyn and Julian remain the only publicly confirmed children of Toukie Smith. The family has not announced further details about memorial arrangements.
Leave a Reply