Former Broadway child actress Imani Dia Smith, who once starred in The Lion King, has died at just 26 years old, authorities confirmed.
Smith was found with stab wounds inside a residence in Edison, New Jersey, on Sunday, Dec. 21, after a 911 call reported a stabbing. According to prosecutors, she was rushed to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Her boyfriend, 35-year-old Jordan D. Jackson-Small, was arrested two days later and charged in connection with her death, according to the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office and the Edison Police Department.
Prosecutors said Jackson-Small faces multiple charges, including first-degree murder, second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon.
Smith’s family is now grieving the loss of a young woman they describe as vibrant, gifted, and deeply loved. In a GoFundMe created by her aunt, Kira Helper, the family shared that Smith leaves behind a 3-year-old son, her parents, two younger siblings, and a large circle of friends and loved ones.
“Imani had her whole life ahead of her,” the page reads. “She was a vivacious, loving, and fiercely talented person.”
Smith was a true triple-threat performer and is best remembered for playing Young Nala on Broadway in The Lion King from 2011 to 2012, according to Playbill. Her family said the role reflected the joy and creativity she brought into the world.
The fundraiser says donations will help cover funeral and memorial costs, crime scene cleanup, trauma therapy for family members, legal and administrative expenses tied to the criminal case, and ongoing care for Smith’s young son and dog.
The page also notes that Smith’s mother, Monique, is a longtime hairdresser in the Broadway and film industries, with credits spanning more than two dozen productions.
As of Dec. 24, the GoFundMe had raised more than $46,000 toward a $55,000 goal.
“Our hope is that these funds will allow Imani’s parents to focus on grieving their daughter, caring for their grandson, and helping their family heal,” the page states, “without the added fear of financial instability.”