Toukie Smith, the model who became a familiar face on television as Eva Rawley on NBC’s 227, died on November 4, 2026, at a New York hospital. She was 74. Her twin children, Airyn and Julian De Niro, confirmed her death in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, saying she had lived with multiple sclerosis for years.
From Philadelphia to the Runway
Born Doris Smith in Philadelphia on September 25, 1952, she got the nickname Toukie from her grandmother. She studied at New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology and began modeling in 1972. Her early work included modeling for her brother, fashion designer Willi Smith.
Over the years, she worked with designers including Hubert de Givenchy, Thierry Mugler, and Issey Miyake. Bloomingdale’s recognized her as a favorite model in 1978. Her children remembered her as someone who helped open doors for Black models and designers.
Finding a New Audience on 227
Smith began acting in the 1980s, appearing on Miami Vice before joining the cast of 227. As Eva Rawley, an artist who becomes the apartment building’s manager, she brought a new personality to the NBC sitcom in its later seasons.
Her film credits included Talkin’ Dirty After Dark, I Like It Like That, and The Preacher’s Wife. She also brought her love of cooking to a different kind of venture, opening a New York restaurant called Toukie’s.
Remembered by Her Family
Smith and actor Robert De Niro were together from 1988 to 1996 and welcomed twins Airyn and Julian in 1995. Smith valued keeping her family life private. “What’s great about a private life is it’s private,” she told the Los Angeles Times in 1990.
In announcing her death, her children remembered their mother as “a force of nature.” For viewers who knew her as Eva Rawley and for those who followed her career in fashion, Smith leaves behind two distinct bodies of work, each marked by the confidence and presence that made her memorable.