Former The Lion King actress Imani Dia Smith dies at 25; boyfriend charged with murder

December 25, 2025 - 5:36 PM IST

Imani Dia Smith, a former child actress best known for portraying Young Nala in the Broadway production of The Lion King, has died at the age of 25 after being fatally stabbed in her home in Edison, New Jersey. Authorities have charged her boyfriend in connection with the incident, according to local law enforcement and prosecutors.

Former The Lion King actress Imani Dia Smith dies at 25; boyfriend charged with murder

Police responded to a 911 call reporting a stabbing on December 21, 2025, at around 9:18 a.m. at a residence on Grove Avenue. Upon arrival, officers found Smith with multiple stab wounds. She was rushed to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.

Smith’s 35-year-old boyfriend, identified as Jordan D. Jackson-Small, was arrested without incident and charged with first-degree murder along with other counts including endangering the welfare of a child and unlawful weapon possession, authorities said. The Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office noted that Smith and Jackson-Small knew each other prior to the incident, indicating the attack was not random.

Imani Dia Smith gained recognition early in her career for her role as Young Nala in The Lion King on Broadway from 2011 to 2012, a production cherished by global audiences. She later continued performing and was remembered by family and friends as a “vivacious, loving and fiercely talented person.”

In the wake of her death, Smith’s aunt, Kira Helper, launched a GoFundMe campaign to support her parents, funeral costs, legal expenses and care for her three-year-old son. In a message shared on the fundraiser page, Helper wrote that her niece “had her whole life ahead of her” and highlighted her artistic gifts and joyous spirit.

Smith is survived by her young son, her parents Monique Rance-Helper and Rawni Helper, her two younger siblings, and extended family members.

Also Read: Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King to start streaming on JioHotstar from March 26