'The Lion King' Actress Dead at 26
Dia Smith, who starred as a child in the Broadway version of The Lion King, was brutally murdered just days before Christmas. She was 26.
According to Smith's aunt's GoFundMe page, Smith allegedly suffered stab wounds at the hands of her boyfriend. According to reports, 35-year-old Jordan D. Jackson-Small of New Jersey is alleged to have attacked Smith with a knife in the presence of her 3-year-old son on the morning of Dec. 21, in New Jersey.
It's unclear at this moment what led to the argument that turned deadly. Jackson-Small was ultimately arrested on charges of first-degree murder, second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, third-degree possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose, and fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon.
He's reportedly being held at Middlesex County Adult Correctional Center.
Police responded to a New Jersey home at 9:18 a.m. over reports of a stabbing. It was there that police discovered Smith with stab wounds. Authorities say she was transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries.
She Was a Young Actress
Smith played Young Nala in Disney's The Lion King on Broadway from 2011 to 2012, according to Playbill.
The publication notes that Smith's mother, Monique Rance-Helper, is a hairstylist who has worked on stage and big screen productions. She styled hair and wigs for The Lion King on Broadway, as well as the Broadway productions Eclipsed, Once On This Island, and The Lightning Thief.
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Smith's mom worked on films such as In The Heights and the FX series POSE.
She Had Her Whole Life Ahead of Her
"Imani had her whole life ahead of her. She was a vivacious, loving and fiercely talented person. 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," Smith's aunt shared in a GoFundMe campaign.
Smith's aunt shared that the campaign aims to raise $75,000 to help cover funeral expenses, crime scene cleanup at Smith's home, trauma therapy for Smith's son, siblings, and parents, as well as care for Smith's beloved dog, Kuro.
Smith is survived by her 3-year-old son, parents, two younger siblings, "and an extended family, friends, and community who loved her very much."