Robert De Niro's children's mother, actress Toukie Smith, has died

Toukie Smith, a former model and actress, passed away at 74 after battling multiple sclerosis. She was the mother of twins with Robert De Niro, who confirmed her death. Smith was influential in shaping American fashion and culture, paving the way for future generations of black models. Born Doris A. Smith in Philadelphia, she began her modeling career in 1972 and was named Model of the Year by Bloomingdale's in 1978. She transitioned to acting in the 1980s, appearing in Miami Vice and several films. Smith and De Niro were together from 1988 to 1996, and their twins were born via surrogate. Airyn, one of the twins, publicly identifies as transgender and has spoken about her experiences growing up as De Niro's child.