Daniel Wayne Smith, 1986-2006

Daniel Wayne Smith was born Jan. 22, 1986, in Mexia, Limestone County, Texas. His mother was 17 and working as a waitress at Jim’s Krispy Fried Chicken. She had married the cook at the restaurant, Billy Wayne Smith, on April 4, 1985, he was 17 too. They separated a year later and divorced in 1993.

Anna Nicole and Daniel lived with her mother, Virgie, for the first six years of his life while his mother worked in various strip clubs in the Houston area. It wasn't until Anna Nicole found success as a model (and J Howard Marshall) that Anna had a house of her own and brought Daniel to live with her. Anna married Marshall in 1994 and they lived on an estate outside of Houston.

Daniel spent his school years in a series of private schools. After Marshall’s death in 1996, Danny and his mother settled in California to be close to modeling and acting opportunities. He also had small parts in some of his mother's films playing a ring bearer in 1995's "To the Limit" and Billy Ray in "Skyscraper."

When Daniel was 16, his mother became the star of a reality television show called "The Anna Nicole Show" and he was a recurring character. He was a sweet, quiet and shy young man, seeming to be embarrassed by the TV show. The makeup artist on the show, who spoke affectionately about Danny, remembers that Anna Nicole was often worried that the camera crews were upsetting him.

Daniel attended classes at Valley College in the summer of 2006. "I didn't know him," said student Christina Corigliano, who was interviewed by Entertainment Tonight. "I saw him a few times going to class and I thought he was cute."

It has been reported that the Daniel was taking antidepressants for depression related to a girl; however, reports from a private detective that Danny spoke to but did not hire, and Ray Martino, whom Danny lived with just prior to his death, indicate that Danny was anxious and depressed over the hold that Howard K Stern had over his mother, and he was worried about her safety.

Daniel Wayne Smith died September 10, 2006, at Doctor’s Hospital, Nassau, Bahamas.