Toukie Smith, the American model and actress best known for her role in the NBC sitcom 227, died on November 4, 2026, at the age of 74. Her twin children, Airyn and Julian De Niro, confirmed her passing following a prolonged battle with multiple sclerosis. The announcement has renewed attention to her personal life, including questions about Toukie Smith’s husband and her relationship with Hollywood actor Robert De Niro.
Smith, whose birth name was Doris A. Smith, was never publicly confirmed to have married. Her most prominent relationship was with De Niro, whom she dated from 1988 to 1996. Although the couple welcomed twins together, they remained unmarried throughout their relationship.
Was Toukie Smith Married?
Toukie Smith did not have a publicly documented husband. The actress maintained a private personal life, and there are no reliable reports confirming that she married Robert De Niro or anyone else.
Smith and De Niro were together for approximately eight years, beginning their relationship in 1988. Their romance attracted considerable attention because both were established figures in entertainment.
Despite appearing together at public events, Smith rarely discussed their relationship in interviews.
In a 1990 interview, she explained her approach to keeping her romantic life away from public attention.
“What’s great about a private life is it’s private,” Smith said.
The couple eventually separated in 1996, although they continued sharing parental responsibilities for their children.
Toukie Smith and Robert De Niro’s Relationship
Toukie Smith began dating Robert De Niro in 1988, during a period when she was moving from modeling into television acting.
De Niro had previously been married to actress Diahnne Abbott. Their marriage ended in 1988, the same year his relationship with Smith began.
At the time, De Niro was already an established Hollywood star, having won Academy Awards for The Godfather Part II and Raging Bull.
Smith was building her acting career after achieving recognition as a fashion model. She appeared in Miami Vice before joining the cast of 227 in 1989.
The couple attended several entertainment industry events together, including a 1989 benefit honoring Smith’s late brother, fashion designer Willi Smith.
Their relationship remained relatively private, with neither frequently discussing personal matters publicly.
After their separation, Smith and De Niro maintained a connection through their children.
Toukie Smith and Robert De Niro Had Twin Children
Toukie Smith and Robert De Niro welcomed twin children, Julian Henry De Niro and Airyn De Niro, on October 20, 1995.
The twins were conceived through in vitro fertilization and delivered by a surrogate mother.
Their arrival made Smith a mother for the first time. De Niro already had two children from his previous marriage to Diahnne Abbott.
Julian later pursued acting, appearing in projects including The First Lady, where he portrayed a young Barack Obama.
Airyn has generally maintained a more private life but has spoken publicly about personal identity and family experiences.
Both children remained connected to their mother throughout her life.
In November 2026, Airyn and Julian confirmed Smith’s passing in a statement that recognized her achievements in modeling, acting and fashion.
Toukie Smith’s Career and Family Background
Toukie Smith was born on September 25, 1952, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She grew up in a working-class family and was the younger sister of influential fashion designer Willi Smith.
She studied at New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology before beginning her modeling career in 1972.
Smith worked with prominent designers including Chanel, Versace, Thierry Mugler, Issey Miyake and Yves Saint Laurent.
In 1978, she was named Bloomingdale’s Model of the Year, establishing herself as a recognizable figure in American fashion.
Her acting career included appearances in Miami Vice, 227, Talkin’ Dirty After Dark, I Like It Like That and The Preacher’s Wife.
She also opened a restaurant called Toukie’s in New York in 1994. The establishment donated part of its proceeds to charitable causes connected to HIV/AIDS awareness in memory of her brother, who died in 1987.
Toukie Smith’s Family Confirms Her Passing
Smith died at a New York hospital on November 4, 2026, following complications associated with multiple sclerosis.
Her children, Airyn and Julian, announced her passing through a family statement released on November 9.
“Toukie was a force of nature,” they said.
The statement also recognized her contributions to American fashion and entertainment, particularly her influence on opportunities for Black models and designers.
Airyn separately shared a tribute to her mother on Instagram, writing, “I’ll always love you, Mom.”
Smith is survived by her twins, her brother Norman Smith-Harllee and her nephew Eliazar Smith-Harllee.
As of November 10, 2026, no public announcement had identified a husband or surviving spouse. Robert De Niro remained her best-known former partner and the father of her two children.
Leave a Reply