Who Was Anna Nicole Smith's Son? What to Know About Daniel Wayne Smith (and Why the Mother-Son Pair Were 'Inseparable' Before His Sudden Death)

Mar. 15, 2025

Anna Nicole Smith and son Daniel during “G-Phoria - The Award Show 4 Gamers” at Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California.Photo:Gregg DeGuire/WireImage

Gregg DeGuire/WireImage

Anna Nicole Smithhad a close relationship with her late son, Daniel Wayne Smith.

The late Playboy model, who died 18 years ago, welcomed Daniel with her then-husband Billy Smith on Jan. 22, 1986. Anna Nicole and Billy met as teenagers in Texas, wed in 1985 and split one year after welcoming Daniel.

When he was a teenager, Anna Nicole maintained a close relationship with her son and the pair even shared the screen together. From 2002 to 2004, Daniel starred on Anna Nicole’s namesake E! reality series,The Anna Nicole Show. He also made appearances in a couple of her films.

Daniel died in the Bahamas in September 2006, three days after his sister, Dannielynn Birkhead, was born. He was 20. Daniel’s deathwas devastating to Anna Nicole, who went into seclusion after losing him.

Anna Nicole died five months later, on Feb. 8, 2007, of an accidental drug overdose. She was 39. At a hearing after her death, Anna Nicole’s then-boyfriend and former lawyer Howard K. Stern said, “Anna and Daniel were inseparable. Daniel was without question the most important person in Anna’s life."

Here’s everything to know about Anna Nicole Smith’s only son, the late Daniel Wayne Smith.

He was born in Texas

Anna Nicole Smith and son Daniel at the Bullock’s Store at Beverly Center in Beverly Hills, California.Ron Galella Collection via Getty

Ron Galella Collection via Getty

Anna Nicole and Billy welcomed their son Daniel on Jan. 22, 1986.

She was 17 years old when she married Billy, a then-16-year-old cook at Jim’s Krispy Fried Chicken, the hometown restaurant where she worked. They split two years after their 1985 wedding.

He and his mother had a close relationship

Anna Nicole Smith and son Daniel at the The Aladdin Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.Denise Truscello/WireImage

Denise Truscello/WireImage

By many accounts, Daniel was the center of his mother’s world and his unexpected death was incredibly tough onthe formerPlayboyplaymate.

Anna Nicole’s lawyer, Michael Scott, told PEOPLE she refused to leave Daniel’s side after he died and had to be sedated in order to check out of the hospital. At his funeral, Anna Nicole reportedly attempted to climb into her son’s coffin.

In a later court battle for custody of Anna Nicole’s remains, her then-partner Stern said he believed “emotionally, she died when Daniel died.”

The final days of Anna Nicole’s life were reportedly spent in a haze as she continued to grieve the loss of Daniel. In an interview withEntertainment Tonight10 days before her death, she mourned Daniel and revealed that she dreamed of him “every day and every night.”

“He comes to me in my sleep … It’s like he’s calling me to come to him," she told the outlet.

Anna Nicole Smith with son Daniel during “Naked Gun 33 1/3” Premiere at Paramount Pictures Lot in Los Angeles, California.Terry McGinnis/WireImage

Terry McGinnis/WireImage

Daniel also made appearances in some of his mother’s films, including 1995’sTo the Limitand 1996’sSkyscraper. After these roles and finishing high school, Daniel enrolled at Valley College in L.A. in 2006.

He can also be seen in the 2023 documentaryAnna Nicole Smith: You Don’t Know Mevia archival footage.

He had one sibling

Larry and Danielynn Birkhead.Larry Birkhead/ Instagram

Larry Birkhead/ Instagram

Daniel had one younger sibling. Anna Nicole andLarry Birkheadwelcomed his sister, Dannielynn Hope Birkhead, on Sept. 7, 2006, three days before his death.

Daniel met Dannielynn one time, the evening before his death when he had gone to the hospital to see his mother and meet his new sister.

He made red carpet appearances with his mom

Anna Nicole Smith with son Daniel appear on the ‘Harald Schmidt Show’ on June 24, 1997.Frank Hempel/United Archives via Getty

Frank Hempel/United Archives via Getty

Danieljoined his mom for some high-profile events over the years.

A young Daniel made red carpet appearances with Anna Nicole at the 1993 Hollywood opening ofGuys and Dollsand theNaked Gun 33 ⅓premiere in L.A. the following year.

One of his last red carpet outings with Anna Nicole was at G-Phoria - The Award Show 4 Gamers in L.A. in 2004.

He died in the Bahamas in 2006

Anna Nicole Smith and son Daniel during “G-Phoria - The Award Show 4 Gamers” at Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California.Gregg DeGuire/WireImage

Daniel died suddenly in the Bahamas on Sept. 10, 2006.

A week later, her attorney, Scott, told PEOPLE she was “overwhelmed.”

“She’s trying to come to grips with the depths of her despair,” he said.

Daniel was laid to rest six weeks later on Oct. 19, 2006, in a plot overlooking the waters of Lake Cunningham in New Providence, Bahamas.

The model wrote in the funeral’s program: “My dearest son Daniel, you were my rock, you were the only one that could keep me solid. Why God took you way from me I do not understand. Perhaps some day I will. It is so hard to think of you, but I do every second.”

source: people.com