The entertainment world is thrown into mourning after the tragic death of Imani Dia Smith, a former Broadway child star best known for playing Young Nala in Disney’s The Lion King. The 25-year-old actress was stabbed to death in her home on December 21, 2025, and her boyfriend, 35-year-old Jordan D. Jackson-Small, has been arrested and charged in connection with her killing.
According to authorities, Edison police responded to a 911 call around 9:18 a.m. on December 21 reporting a stabbing at a residence in Edison, New Jersey. Officers found Imani Dia Smith with multiple stab wounds and rushed her to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, where she was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Law enforcement officials confirmed that the incident was not random Smith and the suspect knew each other prior to the attack.
Jackson-Small was arrested without incident and now faces a series of serious charges, including:
- First-degree murder
- Second-degree endangering the welfare of a child
- Third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose
- Fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon
He is currently being held at the Middlesex County Adult Correctional Center pending further legal proceedings.
Prosecutors emphasized that this appears to be a known and personal incident, not a random act of violence.
Who Was Imani Dia Smith?
Imani Dia Smith first gained public attention as a child performer on Broadway, starring as Young Nala in the acclaimed stage production of Disney’s The Lion King from September 27, 2011, to September 23, 2012. The role portraying the childhood version of Nala introduced her talent to theatre audiences worldwide.
Beyond The Lion King, Smith pursued her artistic journey as a triple-threat performer; excelling in acting, singing, and dancing and was remembered by family and friends as vivacious, loving, and fiercely talented.
News of Smith’s death has prompted an outpouring of grief across social media and entertainment circles, especially given the timing during the holiday season.
The untimely death of Imani Dia Smith at just 25 is a devastating loss, both personally for her family and professionally for fans who remember her talent from Broadway’s The Lion King. With her boyfriend now facing multiple serious charges, the case continues to develop and is likely to draw further legal scrutiny in the coming weeks. A grieving family and community are left to honour her memory and rally around her young son.
May her soul rest in peace.