Imani Dia Smith, the child actress who played Young Nala in The Lion King, has died. News of her death has sent shockwaves through theater circles and among those who watched her grow up under the bright lights of Broadway.
Imani Dia Smith was found with multiple stab wounds inside a residence in Edison, New Jersey, on Sunday, December 21, after authorities received a 911 call reporting a stabbing. She was rushed to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, where she was pronounced dead, according to a statement released by prosecutors on December 23, two days later.
Imani’s boyfriend, 35-year-old Jordan D. Jackson-Small, was arrested two days later, on December 23, and charged with first-degree murder. Prosecutors also charged him with second-degree endangering the welfare of a child and several weapons-related offenses. Officials confirmed that Imani Dia and Jackson-Small knew each other and said the incident was not random.
For many, the tragedy feels especially heavy because of the life Imani Dia leaves behind.
She is survived by her 3-year-old son, her parents, two younger siblings, and a wide circle of loved ones who remember her as vibrant, warm, and endlessly gifted. In a GoFundMe created by her aunt, Kira Helper, the family described Smith as “a vivacious, loving and fiercely talented person” and a true triple-threat performer. Smith appeared as Young Nala on Broadway from 2011 to 2012, a role that placed her at the center of one of the most celebrated productions in theater history while she was still a child.
“She leaves behind a 3-year-old son, her parents, her two younger siblings, and an extended family, friends, and community who loved her so very much,” Helper wrote.
The fundraiser explains that the donations will help cover funeral and memorial expenses, crime scene cleanup, trauma therapy for the family, legal and administrative costs related to the case, and care for Smith’s young son and dog. As of December 24, more than 600 people had donated over $46,000, a clear reflection of how deeply her story has touched strangers and supporters alike.
Smith’s connection to the entertainment world ran deep. Her mother, Monique, works as a professional hairstylist in Broadway, television, and film, with credits spanning more than a decade and including major projects like Smile and The Housemaid. For many in the industry, Imani wasn’t just a former child star. She was family.
As the legal case moves forward, fans and fellow performers are left grieving, grappling with the loss of a young Black woman whose talent held great promise.
