Imani Dia Smith, a talented young actress who played Young Nala in Disney’s The Lion King on Broadway, has sadly passed away at the age of 26. On December 21, 2025, police in Edison, New Jersey, got a call from 911 and found her with several stab wounds. They took her to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, but she died there.
Important Things About Career
From 2011 to 2012, Smith played Young Nala and brought joy and creativity to the iconic show. She was called a “triple-threat performer,” and her amazing talent made a lasting impression on Broadway. Her aunt set up a GoFundMe page to praise her as “vivacious, loving, and fiercely talented.” She leaves behind a son who is 3 years old.
Details of the Incident
Jordan D. Jackson-Small, her boyfriend, is charged with first-degree murder, endangering a child, and weapons offenses. Prosecutors say the two knew each other, so the violence wasn’t random. The stabbing happened at a home in the area, which shocked the theater community.
