Overview
- Her sons, Airyn and Julian, said Smith died on Wednesday, November 4, after a long, courageous battle with multiple sclerosis.
- Smith began modeling in 1972, worked for designers including Givenchy and Yves Saint Laurent, and was named Bloomingdale’s Model of the Year in 1978.
- She moved into acting in the 1980s, had a recurring role on Miami Vice, and played Eva Rawley on NBC’s 227 from 1989 to 1990.
- Smith had twins with Robert De Niro in 1995 who were conceived by in vitro fertilization and delivered by surrogate, and her family statement called her “a force of nature.”
- Her death has prompted tributes that highlight her place in fashion and television history and may spur renewed attention to 227 and the legacy of her brother Willi Smith in American fashion.