Model Toukie Smith Dies After Battle With MS

Model and actress Toukie Smith, who captivated audiences in the 1970s and later starred on the sitcom '227,' has passed away at the age of 74. Her passing occurred on Wednesday in a New York hospital after a "long, courageous battle" with multiple sclerosis.

Smith, born Doris Smith in Philadelphia on September 25, 1952, adopted the name Toukie inspired by a high-energy children's record. She attended the Fashion Institute of Technology and launched her modeling career in 1972, gracing the pages of Vogue and Ebony, and appearing in campaigns for Yves St. Laurent. Her brother was the renowned fashion designer Willi Smith.

Transitioning to acting, Smith became known for her role as Eva Rawley on NBC's '227' from 1988 to 1990. She also had a notable guest role on 'Miami Vice' and appeared in films such as 'Joe's Apartment' and 'The Preacher's Wife.' Smith was in a long-term relationship with actor Robert De Niro from 1988 to 1996, and they are parents to twins Airyn and Julian, conceived via in vitro fertilization and born via surrogate.

Her career also included a stint as a restaurateur in the 1990s with an eponymous establishment in New York. Toukie Smith's multifaceted career left a lasting impression on the worlds of fashion and entertainment.