Imani Smith, who appeared as a child performer in the Broadway production of Disney’s ‘The Lion King’, has died at the age of 25 after a fatal stabbing in New Jersey, casting a shadow over the theatre community that watched her grow up on stage.
According to local authorities, Smith was found with stab wounds at a residence in Edison on December 21 after police responded to an emergency call shortly after 9:00 am. She was taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Following an investigation, police arrested Jordan D. Jackson-Small, 35, and charged him with first-degree murder, along with multiple weapons-related offences and endangering the welfare of a child.
Prosecutors said Smith and the accused were known to each other, with family members later confirming he was her boyfriend. He is currently being held at the Middlesex County Adult Correctional Center.
Smith was remembered by relatives and colleagues as a gifted performer whose early promise left a lasting impression. She appeared as Young Nala in The Lion King on Broadway between 2011 and 2012, an experience her family described as central to her love for music, performance and storytelling.
In a message shared by her aunt, Smith was described as “vivacious, loving and fiercely talented”, adding that she was a natural triple-threat performer whose creativity and warmth touched many lives beyond the stage.
Smith was the daughter of Monique Rance-Helper, a respected hair stylist who has worked across Broadway, television and film productions including In the Heights and Pose. She is survived by her three-year-old son, her parents and two siblings.
Tributes have continued to pour in from theatre fans and former colleagues, many recalling her bright stage presence and mourning a life and career cut tragically short.
