She possessed the kind of presence that could transform an ordinary room into a runway.

Tall, elegant and effortlessly confident, she modeled for some of the most celebrated designers in the world before making an equally memorable transition to television. Yet behind her public success was a deeply private woman who rarely discussed her famous partner, her children or the illness she battled for years.

Now, her family has confirmed the heartbreaking news that she has died at the age of 74.

The former model and actress passed away on November 4, 2026, at a New York hospital following what her twin children described as a “long, courageous battle” with multiple sclerosis.

In their emotional statement, the twins called their mother “a force of nature,” saying she left an unforgettable mark on their hearts and on everyone fortunate enough to know her.

Long before television viewers recognized her face, she was a young girl named Doris growing up in Philadelphia.

Born on September 25, 1952, she received the unusual nickname that would later become her professional identity from her grandmother. It was reportedly inspired by a children’s record about a small red fire engine bursting with energy.

The description suited her perfectly.

She studied at New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology and entered the modeling world in 1972. Her earliest inspiration came from her older brother, a visionary designer who would become one of the most influential figures in American streetwear.

He often used his sister as a model and muse.

Her combination of beauty, confidence and unmistakable personality soon carried her far beyond the family business. She worked with major designers including Hubert de Givenchy, Thierry Mugler, Chanel and Issey Miyake. Her photographs appeared in publications such as Vogue, Ebony, Cosmopolitan, Redbook and Seventeen.

In 1978, Bloomingdale’s named her its favorite model of the year.

Her success carried special significance. At a time when Black women continued to face enormous obstacles in the fashion industry, she commanded attention without surrendering the individuality that made her different.

According to her family, her beauty, grace and presence helped open doors for generations of Black models and designers who followed.

But fashion was only the first chapter.

During the 1980s, she stepped away from the runway and began pursuing acting. Early television appearances included several episodes of Miami Vice, in which she demonstrated that her striking presence could translate naturally from photographs to the screen.

Her most recognizable role arrived in 1989 when she joined the NBC sitcom 227.

She played Eva Rawley, an artist who moved into the apartment building at the heart of the show. The character later became the building manager before accepting a position at an art gallery.

Though she joined the program during its later seasons, she quickly became a memorable part of its ensemble.

Film roles followed. She appeared in Talkin’ Dirty After Dark, I Like It Like That, Joe’s Apartment and the beloved holiday movie The Preacher’s Wife, which starred Denzel Washington and Whitney Houston.

Her ambitions were not limited to modeling and acting.

A talented cook, she operated a catering business that reportedly prepared food for Sean Penn and Madonna’s wedding anniversary. During the 1990s, she also opened a restaurant on West Houston Street in New York. A portion of its proceeds supported her family’s charitable foundation.

Away from work, she shared an important but carefully protected relationship with one of Hollywood’s most acclaimed actors.

The couple began dating in 1988 and remained together until 1996. In October 1995, they welcomed twins conceived through in vitro fertilization and born with the help of a surrogate.

Despite her partner’s global fame, she refused to turn their relationship into publicity.

When asked about their life together during a 1990 interview, she offered a simple explanation: what made a private life special was that it remained private.

That principle guided her for decades.

After the relationship ended, she largely withdrew from the relentless celebrity spotlight. She focused on motherhood and maintained the discretion that had always distinguished her from many other public figures.

Little was publicly revealed about her battle with multiple sclerosis, a chronic condition affecting the central nervous system. Even the length of her illness remained private. Only after her death did her children confirm that she had fought the disease for a long time.

Her death closes a remarkable life that stretched across fashion, television, cinema, food and motherhood.

She was more than the former companion of an Oscar-winning actor. She was a trailblazing model, an actress, an entrepreneur, a devoted mother and an essential part of a creative family that helped shape American culture.

The unforgettable woman behind that extraordinary journey was Toukie Smith.