Woman who starred in 'Lion King' on Broadway as a child is killed in stabbing, officials say

The family of Imani Dia Smith, 26, who starred in "The Lion King" on Broadway as a child, said she was stabbed to death by her boyfriend.

A woman who starred in Broadway’s “The Lion King” as a child was killed in a stabbing over the weekend, New Jersey officials said.

Edison police officers were called to a home on Sunday morning over reports of a stabbing and discovered 26-year-old Imani Dia Smith, the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement on Tuesday. Smith was taken to a hospital to treat her stab wounds, where officials said she was pronounced dead.

A GoFundMe started by Smith’s aunt to raise funds for Smith’s family said she was “killed by her boyfriend.” She is survived by her 3-year-old son, according to the page.

“Imani had her whole life ahead of her,” her aunt wrote. “She was a vivacious, loving and fiercely talented person.”

Smith starred as young Nala in “The Lion King” on Broadway for a year between 2011 and 2012, according to Playbill. Her mother is a hair stylist who has worked on theater, Broadway and television productions including “The Lion King” show and the film adaption of “In the Heights,” the publication said.