Imani Smith (Former Broadway Actress) Age, Death, Boyfriend, Children, Family, Biography

Bio/Wiki
Full Name	Imani Dia Smith
Profession	Actress
Famous for	Potraying Young Nala character in the Broadway show The Lion King (2011)
Physical Stats
Eye Colour	Light Brown
Hair Colour	Dark Ash Blonde
Career
Debut	Theatre: Disney's The Lion King (2011) as Young Nala
Personal Life
Date of Birth	Year, 1999
Birthplace	Denver, Colorado, USA
Date of Death	21 December 2025 (Sunday)
Place of Death	Grove Street residence, Edison, New Jersey
Age (at the time of death)	26 Years
Death Cause	Murder (Multiple Stab)
Nationality	American
Hometown	Denver, Colorado
Religion	Christianity
Relationships & More
Marital Status (at the time of death)	Unmarried
Affair/Boyfriend	Jordan D. Jackson-Small
Family
Children	Son- 1 Daughter- None
Parents	Father- Rawni Helper Mother- Monique Rance-Helper (Hairstylist for film and Broadway)
Siblings	Note: She has two young siblings

Some Lesser Known Facts About Imani Smith

• Imani Smith was a former Broadway actress.

• She was raised in a close-knit family.

• Since childhood, Smith has developed a strong passion for the performing arts. She began acting at a very young age. Then she quickly developed an interest in theatre.

• She began receiving professional training in the performing arts at the age of 3.

• In 2011, Imani was cast in the show, Disney’s The Lion King on Broadway. She had appeared in the role as a replacement performer.
  

  Imani Smith, while she portrayed the character of Young Nala in Disney’s The Lion King show

• She performed in the show from September 27, 2011, to September 23, 2012, where Imani showcased her exceptional acting, singing, and dancing skills.

• Imani had also participated in R.Evolución Latina’s DARE TO GO BEYOND Children’s Arts Camp (2012) and Carols For A Cure (2012) with other Lion King cast members.

• Smith’s vibrant performance, discipline, and natural stage presence made her a memorable part of Broadway’s theatre community.

• After the Broadway experience, Imani Smith largely lived outside public attention. There are no verified film, television, or theater works associated with her adult life.

• On 21 December 2025, she was found dead at her residence in Edison, New Jersey. According to some reports, she was found with stab wounds and was taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, where she was pronounced dead.

• On 23 December 2025, her boyfriend, Jordan D. Jackson-Small, was arrested and accused of murder.

• According to Middlesex County, New Jersey, prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Edison Police Department chief Thomas Bryan, he was charged with 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.

• Imani Smith is survived by her 3-year-old son, who was also present with her at her home at the time of the violent incident, her parents, her aunty and two siblings.

• Her aunt, Kira Helper, set up a GoFundMe campaign on behalf of her parents. The funds raised via GoFundMe will go toward funeral and memorial expenses, crime scene cleanup at Smith’s home, trauma therapy for her family, legal and administrative costs related to the criminal proceedings in her death, and care for Smith’s son and dog.
  

  A screenshot of the GoFundMe campaign organised by Imani Smith’s aunt

• In her campaign, she wrote,

She was a vivacious, loving and fiercely talented person. A true triple-threat performer, she most notably played the role of Young Nala on Broadway in Disney’s Lion King — an experience that reflected the joy, creativity, and light she put into the world.

This GoFundMe is being organized to support Imani’s parents, Monique Rance-Helper and Rawni Helper, who are now facing the unimaginable: grieving their daughter while stepping in to raise her young son and support their two other children during this traumatic time.

• As of 26 December 2025, $ 64,000 have raised in her GoFundMe campaign.

• Imani Smith was admired for her kindness and humility. She remained connected to the arts community even after stepping away from the spotlight. She was cherished by friends and colleagues.

• She was an avid dog lover and owned a dog named Kuro.