Who is Toukie Smith?
Toukie is an American actress and model, who rose to stardom as Eva Rawley in the TV comedy series “227” (1989-1990), and to notice as the ex-girlfriend of Academy Award-winning actor Robert De Niro.
Where is Toukie Smith Now?
After more than 25 years in show business as an actress and model, Toukie left it all in the late ’90s. Since then, she seems to be leading a peaceful life away from the media. Toukie now resides in Battery Park City, New York City.
Toukie Smith Wiki: Age, Childhood, and Education
Doris A. Smith was born on 25 September 1952, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, to Willie Lee Smith, an ironworker, and June Eileen Smith, a homemaker; but is better known for her stage name Toukie, which she got from her grandmother.
Her brother was Willi Smith, one of the most successful African-American fashion designers, but who passed away on 17 April 1987 after a bout with shigella and pneumonia. Following his death, it was revealed that he had AIDS, and that he tested HIV positive after being admitted into the Mt. Sinai Medical Center in New York City.
Her other brother is Norman Smith. For her directed education, Toukie went to the Fashion Institute of Technology of the State University of New York.
Career Beginnings
Toukie started her career as a model in the early ’70s. Her stunning looks brought her contracts with such fashion brands and designers as Chanel, Versace, WilliWear owned by her brother, Issey Miyake, Norma Kamali, Geoffrey Beene, Thierry Mugler, and Patrick Kelly, among others.
Her early work brought her a successful print campaign career, including with Yves St. Laurent, then appearances in such magazines as ELLE, Ebony, Vogue, Seventeen, Redbook, Ebony, and Cosmpolitan, among others.
Six years into her career, Bloomingdale named her Model of the Year, and she became only the second African-American model to have a mannequin designed in her likeness.
Acting Career
After she became romantically involved with Robert De Niro, Toukie launched her acting career, making her debut in the TV series “Miami Vice” as Angie, Caitlin’s Assistant, in 1987, and appearing in two more episodes in 1988.
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The same year, she made her film debut as Deli Deliah in the fantasy comedy “Me and Him”, starring Griffin Dunne, Ellen Greene and Kelly Bishop among others.
The following year, Toukie was selected for the most prominent role in her career, as Eva Rawley in the Primetime Emmy Award-winning TV comedy series “227”, starring in 23 episodes in 1989 and 1990, which earned her international recognition as an actress.
She was active until 1999, appearing in such projects as Topper Carew’s comedy film “Talkin’ Dirty After Dark” (1991), then the award-winning romantic comedy-drama film “I Like It Like That” (1994), written and directed by Darnell Martin, and starring Luna Lauren Velez, Jon Seda, and Thomas Melly.
Two years later, she appeared in the fantasy comedy film “Joe’s Apartment”, with Jerry O’Connell and Megan Ward in the lead roles, and also featured in the Academy Award-nominated fantasy comedy-drama film “The Preacher’s Wife”, with Denzel Washington, Whitney Houston and Courtney B. Vance as the main stars.
Before retiring into obscurity, Toukie appeared in the comedy film “Goosed”, starring Jennifer Tilly, Joan Rivers, and Robert Klein in the lead roles.
Relationship with DeNiro, Twins, Split
Toukie and DeNiro started dating in 1985. In the first few years of their romance, Toukie experienced several family tragedies. First, her mother passed away from cirrhosis in 1986, which devastated her as she witnessed the disease taking her mother’s life little by little.
The following year her brother died, and it was rather complicated for her to recover. Luckily, with DeNiro by her side, she overcame the tragedies and continued with her life and career.
The two even welcomed twins, Aaron Kendrick and Julian Henry, in 1995. The twins were conceived by in vitro fertilization, and delivered by a surrogate mother.
The couple split the following year, but continued to co-parent their two children, and even today remain on good terms. Since their break-up, Toukie has rarely talked about her private life, and according to sources, she’s been single ever since.
Net Worth
As of mid- 2022, Toukie’s net worth has been estimated to be around $3 million, earned through her successful career as an actress and a model, and possibly through her divorce settlement from De Niro, whose fortune is now estimated at close to $500 million.
Appearance and Vital Statistics
The former actress has long black hair and brown eyes. She stands at the height of 5ft 8ins (1.73m), weighs approximately 125lbs (56kgs), with vital statistics of 34-24-34, bra size 34B.
Toukie Smith Ex-Partner, Robert DeNiro Short Bio
Robert Anthony De Niro Jr. was born on 17 August 1943, in New York City, USA. The son of Robert De Niro Sr. and Virginia Admiral, he is of Italian, Irish, Dutch, French, English and German ancestry.
His mother raised him in the Greenwich Village and Little Italy neighborhoods of Manhattan, as his parents separated when he was just two years old. Both his parents came out as gay, but remained close to Robert during his childhood. He was very shy while growing up, but was fascinated by cinema and acting, and realized that acting could be a great way to overcome his shyness.
He changed high schools several times, and later studied acting at HB Studio and Lee Strasberg’s Actors Studio. Moreover, he studied with Stella Adler, and was inspired by such acting greats as Marlon Brando, James Dean, Geraldine Page, James Dean, Montgomery Clift and Kim Stanley, among others.
He made his acting debut in the short film “Encounter” in 1965, and since then has appeared in more than 120 film and TV titles, winning a number of awards, including two Oscars for his work in the films “Raging Bull” (1980) as Jake La Motta, and “The Irishman” (2019).
Some of his most prominent roles include Travis Bickle in the film “Taxi Driver” (1976), then as Michael in the film “The Deer Hunter” (1978), and as Max Cady in the film “Cape Fear” (1991), in addition to numerous other roles that he’s had during his career.
As mentioned, DeNiro’s net worth is one of the highest in the entertainment industry, at around $500 million as of mid- 2022.
Before his relationship with Toukie, De Niro was married to actress Diahnne Abbott with whom he has a son Raphael.
After splitting from Toukie, he married actress Grace Hightower from 1976 to ’88, with whom he also has a son, Elliott. Robert is now officially single.
