Toukie Smith’s Role on 227 and Her Life in Fashion: What to Know as of November 10, 2026

Verified: November 10, 2026, at 1:04 a.m. UTC (UTC+00:00).

Toukie Smith, the model and actress who played Eva Rawley on the NBC sitcom 227, died on November 4, 2026, at age 74. Her children, Airyn and Julian De Niro, confirmed her death to The Hollywood Reporter, according to E! News, which reported that Smith had lived with multiple sclerosis.

For viewers revisiting 227, Smith was the artist Eva, a neighbor who arrived late in the show’s run and became part of its final-season ensemble. Her television work followed an established fashion career that included modeling for major designers and for her brother, Willi Smith.

Destaques

• Smith played Eva Rawley, an artist living in the apartment building at the center of 227.
• Eva appeared near the end of season four; Smith joined the regular cast for the fifth and final season.
• Before acting, Smith worked as a runway model, including for her brother, designer Willi Smith.
• Smith’s children confirmed her death at 74, according to reports published on November 9.

Who did Toukie Smith play on 227?

Smith played Eva Rawley, an artist who moves into the Washington, D.C., apartment building where much of the comedy takes place. A contemporary Los Angeles Times profile described Eva as an artist living in the building and identified Smith as a regular on the NBC series.

Eva’s arrival gave the established neighbors another personality to interact with as the series approached its final year. The show centered on Mary Jenkins, played by Marla Gibbs, and the conversations, friendships and everyday disputes among the people around her apartment building. Smith’s character was part of that community; she was not the show’s original lead.

The distinction matters for anyone trying to place her in an ensemble that changed over time. Smith is associated with the later episodes, while Gibbs, Hal Williams as Mary’s husband Lester, and Regina King as their daughter Brenda were among the actors associated with the Jenkins family from the beginning.

When did Toukie Smith join the cast of 227?

Smith appeared as Eva in the fourth-season finale, “For Sale,” which aired in May 1989, before joining the main cast for season five. An episode listing for Eva identifies the earlier appearance and lists her subsequent fifth-season appearances. The Encyclopedia of TV & Radio places Eva Rawley in the 1989–90 cast.

The series ran for five seasons and ended in 1990. That means viewers looking specifically for Smith should start with the end of season four and then explore season five, rather than expecting Eva to be present throughout the show. The final season also added other performers, including Paul Winfield and Stoney Jackson, to the ensemble.

What was 227 about?

227 was a neighborhood sitcom built around Mary Jenkins and the residents and visitors who passed through her orbit. The apartment building and its stoop gave the characters a shared setting for family disagreements, gossip and friendships. Its ensemble included Jackée Harry as Sandra Clark, Alaina Reed Hall as Rose Lee Holloway and Helen Martin as Pearl Shay.

That setting helps explain Eva’s place in the show. She entered an existing community with established relationships, giving the series a new neighbor to fold into its comedy. Smith’s role is a useful window into the show’s final phase, even though it represents only a portion of its complete run.

Was Toukie Smith a model before she became an actress?

Yes. Born Doris Smith in Philadelphia, she built a career in fashion before becoming familiar to sitcom audiences. In its 1990 interview, the Los Angeles Times reported that she began working for her brother Willi in New York and later modeled for designers including Chanel, Issey Miyake and Thierry Mugler.

Willi Smith was known for his WilliWear label. Toukie also worked to honor his memory after his death in 1987: the Chicago History Museum notes that she established the Willi Smith Family Foundation for AIDS Research. The connection is a significant part of her story, but her own modeling and acting work gave her a public career in its own right.

What else did Toukie Smith appear in?

Smith’s screen credits extended beyond 227. She appeared in Miami Vice and in films including Talkin’ Dirty After Dark and The Preacher’s Wife, according to a USA Today report on her life. Those credits show a career that moved across television and film after her years in fashion.

She was also a former partner of actor Robert De Niro; their children are Airyn and Julian. As audiences return to her work following her death, Eva offers one starting point for seeing Smith as a performer, while her fashion career supplies the broader context for her public life.

FAQ

Was Toukie Smith on every season of 227?

No. She appeared near the end of season four and was a regular in the fifth and final season.

Who was Eva Rawley?

Eva was an artist and a resident of the apartment building featured in 227, played by Toukie Smith.

How was Toukie Smith related to Willi Smith?

Willi Smith, the fashion designer associated with WilliWear, was her brother. Toukie modeled his designs and later supported AIDS research in his memory.