Model, ‘227’ Actress Was 74
The Hollywood Reporter • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Toukie Smith, a prominent 1970s model and actress known for her role as Eva Rawley on NBC's sitcom 227, has died at age 74 after a long battle with multiple sclerosis.
- Smith was a successful model who worked with top designers like Givenchy, Mugler, and Issey Miyake, and appeared in major magazines including Vogue and Ebony; she was named Bloomingdale’s model of the year in 1978.
- She transitioned to acting in the late 1980s, with notable roles on 227 and Miami Vice, as well as appearances in films such as Talkin’ Dirty After Dark and The Preacher’s Wife.
- Born Doris Smith in Philadelphia, she was the sister of fashion designer Willi Smith and attended the Fashion Institute of Technology before starting her modeling career in 1972.
- Smith was the longtime partner of Robert De Niro from 1988 to 1996, with whom she had twins via IVF and surrogacy; she also owned a restaurant in New York during the 1990s.
