Former child actress Imani Smith, who has played a key role in The Lion King on Broadway, has reportedly died at the age of 25. Reportedly, she was found dead in a residence in N.J. on December 21, after someone reported a 911 call. However, amid this, her boyfriend has been arrested, as per reports. Let's delve in to know more details.<h2>Exact cause of death of Imani Smith; condolences pour in from netizens</h2>According to reports, Imani Smith was found with stab wounds in a residence after someone reported a stabbing in a 911 call. Reportedly, as per the press release issued on December 23 by prosecutors, Imani Smith was pronounced dead after she was brought to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/peaky-blinders-the-immortal-man-teaser-cillian-murphy-returns-as-tommy-shelby-in-showdown-for-blood-power-and-legacy-1766628365420">Peaky Blinders-The Immortal Man teaser: Cillian Murphy returns as Tommy Shelby in showdown for blood, power and legacy</a>&nbsp;Reportedly, her boyfriend, Jordan D. Jackson-Small, was arrested and accused of murder on December 23, according to Middlesex County, New Jersey, prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Edison Police Department chief Thomas Bryan. He has been reportedly charged with first-degree murder, second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, prosecutors said.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-lady-gaga-to-miley-cyrus-stars-who-hate-christmas-and-why-1766577092603">From Lady Gaga to Miley Cyrus: Stars who hate Christmas and</a>&nbsp;Soon after the news of her death spread, netizens took to mourning the passing of the actress. One user wrote, "RIP Imani, that's sad, man." Another user wrote, "This is said, OMG SMH. Pray for the family." "This is so awful. Femicide feels like it’s at an all-time high right now. "Femicide feels like it's at an all time high right now, Former The Lion King Child star Imani Dia Smith has died at 25 | Playbill", wrote the third user.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/dhurandhar-2-lock-eid-2026-set-for-a-massive-pan-india-five-language-release-1766576512704">Dhurandhar 2 locks Eid 2026: Set for a massive pan-India five-language release</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">This is so awful. Femicide feels like it’s at an all time high right now. 💔💔💔💔 Former The Lion King Child Star Imani Dia Smith Has Died at 25 | Playbill <a href="https://t.co/ePxk4QZQzz">https://t.co/ePxk4QZQzz</a>&mdash; @DrBritWilliams on 🦋sky (@DrBritWilliams) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrBritWilliams/status/2003956054926020832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>More details on Imani Smith's death</h2>Imani Smith's aunt had started a GoFundMe page to raise money and wrote, "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."&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/watch-jackie-chan-carries-olympic-torch-through-ancient-pompeii-ahead-of-milan-cortina-2026-1766574320724">WATCH: Jackie Chan carries Olympic torch through ancient Pompeii</a>&nbsp;According to Playbill, Smith appeared in The Lion King between 2011 and 2012. Reports suggest that the GoFundMe page noted that Smith's mother, Monique, works as a hairdresser for Broadway and television and film productions. Monique's IMDb page shows she has worked on more than 25 movies and television shows as a hairstylist since 2010, including this year's The Housemaid and 2022's Smile.

Former child actress of The Lion King on Broadway, Imani Smith, has reportedly died at 25. According to reports, her boyfriend has been charged with murder. Read to know more. 

Former child actress Imani Smith, who has played a key role in The Lion King on Broadway, has reportedly died at the age of 25. Reportedly, she was found dead in a residence in N.J. on December 21, after someone reported a 911 call. However, amid this, her boyfriend has been arrested, as per reports. Let's delve in to know more details. Exact cause of death of Imani Smith; condolences pour in from netizens According to reports, Imani Smith was found with stab wounds in a residence after someone reported a stabbing in a 911 call. Reportedly, as per the press release issued on December 23 by prosecutors, Imani Smith was pronounced dead after she was brought to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick. Also Read: Peaky Blinders-The Immortal Man teaser: Cillian Murphy returns as Tommy Shelby in showdown for blood, power and legacy Reportedly, her boyfriend, Jordan D. Jackson-Small, was arrested and accused of murder on December 23, according to Middlesex County, New Jersey, prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Edison Police Department chief Thomas Bryan. He has been reportedly charged with first-degree murder, second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, prosecutors said. Also Read: From Lady Gaga to Miley Cyrus: Stars who hate Christmas and Soon after the news of her death spread, netizens took to mourning the passing of the actress. One user wrote, "RIP Imani, that's sad, man." Another user wrote, "This is said, OMG SMH. Pray for the family." "This is so awful. Femicide feels like it’s at an all-time high right now. "Femicide feels like it's at an all time high right now, Former The Lion King Child star Imani Dia Smith has died at 25 | Playbill", wrote the third user. Also Read: Dhurandhar 2 locks Eid 2026: Set for a massive pan-India five-language release

Former child actress of The Lion King on Broadway, Imani Smith, has reportedly died at 25. According to reports, her boyfriend has been charged with murder. Read to know more.&nbsp;

Former Lion King Broadway child actress Imani Smith stabbed to death; boyfriend charged with murder

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Former Lion King Broadway child actress Imani Smith stabbed to death; boyfriend charged with murder