Former Lion King Broadway Star Imani Dia Smith Has Passed Away at 25

Former Lion King Broadway Star Imani Dia Smith Passed Away

The Broadway community is mourning the tragic loss of Imani Dia Smith, the talented former child actress known for her role as Young Nala in Disney’s The Lion King. Smith was killed on the morning of Sunday, December 21, 2025, in Edison, New Jersey. She was 25 years old.

According to reports from the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office and Playbill, authorities responded to a 911 call reporting a stabbing at a residence on Grove Avenue. Upon arrival, officers found Smith suffering from multiple stab wounds. She was rushed to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.

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Authorities have arrested Jordan D. Jackson-Small, 35, in connection with the killing. Prosecutors stated that Smith and Jackson-Small knew each other prior to the incident and that it was “not a random act of violence.” Jackson-Small 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
• Fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon

He is currently being held at the Middlesex County Adult Correctional Center pending further legal proceedings.

A “Triple-Threat” Legacy

Imani Dia Smith graced the Broadway stage as Young Nala from September 27, 2011, to September 23, 2012. Those who worked with her remembered her as a vibrant performer with a remarkable voice and infectious energy.

Her connection to the theater ran deep; her mother, Monique Rance-Helper, is a well-known hair stylist for The Lion King and other Broadway and film productions.

Remembering Imani

Smith is survived by her three-year-old son, her parents, and her two younger siblings. In the wake of this tragedy, her aunt, Kira Helper, established a GoFundMe to support the family as they navigate funeral costs, trauma therapy, and the long-term care of Imani’s son and beloved dog, Kuro.

“Imani had her whole life ahead of her. She was a vivacious, loving and fiercely talented person,” the fundraiser reads. “A true triple-threat performer, she most notably played the role of Young Nala on Broadway in Disney’s Lion King — an experience that reflected the joy, creativity, and light she put into the world.”

The family’s fundraiser has already seen an outpouring of support from the Broadway community and fans alike, raising over $50,000 to help provide stability for her son and siblings during this devastating time.

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