Imani Dia Smith, a former child actress known for her role as Young Nala in Broadway's "The Lion King," has died at the age of 25. Smith was found with stab wounds in a residence in Edison, New Jersey, on Sunday, December 21. She was transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, where she was pronounced dead.
Authorities have arrested Jordan D. Jackson-Small, 35, Smith's boyfriend, in connection with her death. He has been 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.
Smith played Young Nala in "The Lion King" from September 27, 2011, to September 23, 2012. News of her tragic passing has prompted an outpouring of grief and support from the Broadway community and beyond.
A GoFundMe page has been set up by Smith's aunt to support her family. The fundraiser aims to help cover funeral and memorial expenses, trauma therapy for Smith's son, siblings, and parents, legal and administrative costs, and ongoing care for her son and her dog, Kuro. As of December 24, 2025, the GoFundMe has raised over $46,000 toward a $50,000 goal.
The GoFundMe page describes Smith as a "true triple-threat performer" and notes that her role in "The Lion King" reflected the "joy, creativity, and light she put into the world". Smith is survived by her three-year-old son, her parents, Rawni Helper and Monique Rance-Helper, and two younger siblings. Her mother, Monique Rance-Helper, is a hair stylist who has worked on Broadway productions such as "The Lion King," "Eclipsed," "Once On This Island," and "The Lightning Thief," as well as the "In the Heights" film and the FX series "POSE".
Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Edison Police Department Chief Thomas Bryan issued a press release on December 23 confirming Smith's death and Jackson-Small's arrest. The authorities responded to a 911 call reporting a stabbing at a residence on Grove Street in Edison on Sunday morning.
The investigation into Smith's death is ongoing. This is a developing story, and more information will be provided as it becomes available.
