Robert De Niro’s family is mourning a heartbreaking loss after the Oscar-winning actor’s former partner, model and actress Toukie Smith, died following a lengthy battle with multiple sclerosis.
Smith, who shared twin children Airyn and Julian with the Hollywood star, died Nov. 4 at age 74.
Her children confirmed the devastating news to The Hollywood Reporter, revealing that their mother had endured a “long, courageous battle” with the neurological disease.
The announcement marks a painful chapter for the De Niro family, which has faced several personal tragedies in recent years.
Smith was widely recognized for her successful modeling career and her role as Eva Rawley on the NBC sitcom 227, where she appeared alongside Regina King, Marla Gibbs and Helen Martin.
Born Doris A. Smith in Philadelphia in 1952, she entered the fashion industry during the 1970s with encouragement from her brother, celebrated fashion designer Willi Smith.
Her striking appearance and distinctive personality helped establish her as a prominent figure in fashion.
Over the years, she worked with major luxury brands, including Chanel, Versace and Yves Saint Laurent.
But Smith had ambitions beyond modeling.
She eventually pursued acting, landing her memorable role on 227 in 1989 before appearing in productions including Miami Vice, Joe’s Apartment and Goosed.
Despite her accomplishments, Smith acknowledged that breaking into Hollywood presented challenges she had not anticipated.
“Everybody has to get it right,” she told The New York Times in 1992. “I am an actress first. I’m not a sometime model.”
She also joked about the difficulties of establishing herself in the entertainment industry.
“I thought modeling was rough with rejection. Huh! Welcome to the real world of acting!”
Smith’s relationship with De Niro began in 1988, the same year the actor divorced his first wife, Diahnne Abbott.
The couple maintained a relatively private romance, rarely offering the public details about their relationship.
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When questioned about dating one of Hollywood’s biggest stars during a 1990 interview with the Los Angeles Times, Smith offered a characteristically brief response.
“What’s great about a private life is it’s private.”
Although their romantic relationship eventually ended, Smith and De Niro welcomed twins Airyn and Julian through a surrogate on Oct. 20, 1995.
The former couple continued sharing parenting responsibilities after their separation.
Both children have since pursued their own interests in entertainment, with Julian establishing himself as an actor.
He has appeared in Broadway productions and television projects, including Showtime’s The First Lady and Netflix’s Zero Day.
Airyn has also spoken publicly about her admiration for her mother and the lasting impression Smith made on those around her.
In an interview with Them magazine, Airyn recalled hearing relatives praise her mother’s personality and the happiness she brought to family gatherings.
“Whenever I’m at a family gathering on my dad’s side, people would always talk about how much they love my mom and how memorable she was and how happy my dad was when he was with her,” she shared. “I want to be like that… I want to be remembered the way that people remember her.”
Beyond her entertainment career, Smith was also a businesswoman and philanthropist.
In 1994, she opened Toukie’s, a Manhattan restaurant that donated part of its profits to AIDS-related causes in memory of her brother, who died from complications associated with the disease in 1987.
“I opened this place because big parties are one thing,” Smith told The New York Times, “but now it’s time for us to come together, to connect.”
Her commitment to bringing people together reflected the outgoing personality that helped define her career.
Smith once explained that her unusual nickname came from a children’s song about a determined fire engine.
“I’ve always had lots of energy,” she told the Los Angeles Times.
Her death follows a prolonged struggle with multiple sclerosis, a chronic disease that affects the central nervous system and can interfere with movement, coordination and other bodily functions.
Further details surrounding her final days have not been publicly disclosed.
Smith is survived by her children, Airyn and Julian, who confirmed her death nearly three decades after she and De Niro welcomed them into the world.
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