Talented Broadway actress,Imani Dia Smith, who played Young Nala in Disney’s The Lion King, had been tragically stabbed to death at her home in Edison, New Jersey, on December 21, 2025. She was just 25 years old. Her boyfriend, Jordan D. Jackson-Small, 35, has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder, endangering the welfare of a child, and unlawful possession of a weapon.
Imani was a vibrant and loving person who left behind a 3-year-old son, her parents, Monique Rance-Helper and Rawni Helper, and two younger siblings. Her aunt, Kira Helper, described her as a “vivacious, loving, and fiercely talented person” and a “true triple-threat performer”.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to support Imani’s family, with donations going towards funeral expenses, crime scene cleanup, trauma therapy, and care for her young son.
