Actress Toukie Smith who shares twins with Robert De Niro passes away

Toukie Smith, the actress best known for starring in 227 and Miami Vice, has passed away. 

She passed away in New York after a “long, courageous battle” with multiple sclerosis as confirmed by her twins Airyn and Julian, whom she shared with former partner Robert De Niro. 

Toukie was born Dorris Smith back in 1952, but chose the stage name Toukie from her grandmother. 

Back in 1990 she explained to Los Angeles Times: "It was a nickname my grandmother gave me that came from a children’s record about a little red fire engine with lots of energy. I’ve always had lots of energy." 

She began dating Robert De Niro back in 1988 although it has not been confirmed how they met. They welcomed twins into their lives via surrogate after he divorced Diahnne Abbott. 

They were allegedly in an on-off relationship for years before calling it quits back in 1996. 

She also modelled and appeared in campaigns for Yves St. Laurent, and was seen in magazines like Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Seventeen, Ebony and Redbook. 

Toukie was also crowned Bloomingdale’s first model of the year in 1978.