Toukie Smith, Groundbreaking Model & '227' Star, Passes Away At 74

Long before fashion runways routinely celebrated the brilliance and poise of Black women, Toukie Smith walked onto the catwalk with a radiant grin, undeniable elegance, and an energy so vibrant it could light up an entire continent. On Wednesday, the trailblazing supermodel, actress, and cultural icon passed away inside a New York hospital at age 74 following a "long, courageous battle" with multiple sclerosis, as confirmed in an emotional announcement by her twin sons, Airyn and Julian.

Her children, whom she shared with longtime former partner Robert De Niro, reflected on her pioneering imprint across American style: "Our mother shared in a remarkable family legacy that helped shape American fashion and culture. Her beauty, grace and unmistakable presence helped pave the way for generations of Black models and designers in fashion. Toukie was a force of nature. She left an indelible mark on our hearts and on everyone lucky enough to know her."

Born Doris Smith in Philadelphia in 1952, she was nicknamed "Toukie" by her grandmother after a children’s record about an energetic little red fire engine. She studied at the Fashion Institute of Technology and burst onto the high-fashion scene in 1972, quickly commanding campaigns for Yves Saint Laurent, Hubert de Givenchy, Thierry Mugler, Issey Miyake, and Patrick Kelly. Gracing the pages of Vogue, Ebony, Cosmopolitan, Redbook, and Seventeen, Smith was officially crowned Bloomingdale's Model of the Year in 1978. Her family legacy was doubly woven into the fashion tapestry alongside her beloved brother, visionary designer Willi Smith, who passed away from AIDS complications in 1987.

Television audiences came to love her spirit during the golden era of Black sitcoms. In 1989, she joined the cast of NBC’s smash hit 227 alongside Marla Gibbs and Jackée Harry, portraying the energetic neighborhood artist Eva Rawley throughout the sitcom’s final two seasons. Her television and screen credits also spanned Miami Vice — playing Angie alongside Sheena Easton — as well as memorable roles in Talkin' Dirty After Dark, I Like It Like That, Joe's Apartment, and Penny Marshall's holiday classic The Preacher's Wife starring Whitney Houston and Denzel Washington.

Throughout the 1990s, Smith also became a fixture in the New York culinary scene with her celebrated eponymous restaurant, Toukie’s, on West Houston Street. She lived her life with warmth, generosity, and an unmistakable laugh that echoed in the hearts of everyone she met. Today, we remember a woman who broke down doors with style, dignity, and unapologetic joy.

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