Imani Smith, who once starred as Young Nala in the Broadway production of Disney’s The Lion King, has tragically died at 26. Police report she was killed in a stabbing in New Jersey.
On December 21st, police responded to a home in Edison, New Jersey, after a 911 call was received, according to the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office.
Police found Smith with stab wounds when they responded to the scene. She was transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, but unfortunately, she passed away there.
Police arrested 35-year-old Jordan D. Jackson-Small in connection with the woman’s death. Authorities stated the victim and Jackson-Small were known to each other, indicating this wasn’t a random act of violence. Family members later revealed that Jackson-Small was the victim’s boyfriend.
Jackson-Small was arrested peacefully and is now accused of several serious crimes, including first-degree murder, putting a child in danger, and possessing weapons illegally. The investigation is still underway, and officials haven’t yet shared more information about what happened before the arrest.
As a child, Smith appeared in the Broadway production of The Lion King from 2011 to 2012. She later lived a more private life, but her family remembers her as a loving and dedicated mother and relative.
She is remembered by her son, who is three years old, as well as her parents, aunt, and two siblings. After her passing, a GoFundMe campaign was started to help her family. The funds will support her parents as they raise her son and care for her other children. The campaign has already successfully raised most of the needed amount.
As a lifelong moviegoer, I’m always struck by stories that feel ripped from real life, and this one is particularly devastating. It’s just heartbreaking to think about a young woman, someone with a creative spirit and so much life ahead of her – a future mom, no less – being taken so suddenly by violence. It really hits home how crucial it is to recognize and address domestic violence, and to be there for anyone who might be in danger. It’s a tragedy that reminds us this isn’t just a plot point in a film; it’s a reality for far too many.
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2025-12-25 10:45