Toukie Smith, ‘227’ Actor and Robert De Niro’s Former Partner, Dies After MS Battle: What to Know

Key Points:

• Toukie Smith, a model, actor, and mother of twins with Robert De Niro, died at age 74 on November 4 after a long battle with multiple sclerosis, her children announced.
• Smith was known for her role as Eva Rawley on the NBC sitcom "227" and appearances on "Miami Vice," as well as her influential modeling career working with designers like her brother Willi Smith, Hubert de Givenchy, and Patrick Kelly.
• She was part of a significant legacy in American fashion and culture, helping pave the way for Black models and designers through her work as a model, muse, and collaborator with prominent artists and designers of her era.
• Toukie Smith and Robert De Niro were partners from 1988 to 1996 and had twins via in vitro fertilization and a surrogate; De Niro has five other children with different partners.
• Multiple sclerosis, the disease that led to Smith’s death, is an autoimmune condition affecting the central nervous system, with symptoms ranging from vision problems to muscle weakness, and while incurable, treatments exist to manage its effects.