‘The Lion King’ child actress Imani Dia Smith, who played Young Nala, dies at 26 🙏🏾🕊️
— My Mixtapez (@mymixtapez) December 25, 2025
Her boyfriend is charged with murder 😳 pic.twitter.com/7SBUKDFa2u
Imani Dia Smith, the 26-year-old former Broadway child actress who played Young Nala in Disney's *The Lion King* (from September 2011 to September 2012), was tragically stabbed to death in her home in Edison, New Jersey, on December 21, 2025.
Her boyfriend, 35-year-old Jordan D. Jackson-Small, has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder, second-degree endangering the welfare of a child (related to Smith's 3-year-old son, who was present but unharmed), and weapons offenses. Authorities confirmed it was not a random act, as the two knew each other. The motive has not been publicly disclosed, and the investigation is ongoing. Smith, a mother and talented performer described by her family as a "vivacious, loving triple-threat," leaves behind her young son, parents, and siblings. A GoFundMe set up by her aunt has raised significant funds to cover funeral costs, trauma therapy, and family support. The news broke widely on Christmas Day (December 25, 2025), with the X post from @mymixtapez gaining over 130,000 likes and millions of views, sparking widespread mourning in the Broadway community and online discussions about intimate partner violence. Many commenters emphasized that this was a murder, not just a "death," and called for justice.Former Lion King Actor Imani Dia Smith Dies at 25 - TheaterMania.com
Imani Dia Smith, who played Young Nala in the Broadway production of The Lion King, has died at the age of 25.
Authorities discovered Smith with stab wounds at a home in Edison, New Jersey, on the morning on Sunday, December 21. She was rushed to the hospital where she was pronounced dead.
Smith’s boyfriend, Jordan D. Jackson-Small, has been charged with murder, endangering the welfare of a child, and weapons offenses.
Smith appeared in The Lion King from September 2011 through September 2012.
She is survived by her 3-year-old son, two younger siblings, and her parents Rawni Helper and Broadway hair stylist Monique Rance-Helper.
Smith’s aunt, Kira Helper, has set up a GoFundMe to support the family.
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