The entertainment industry is mourning the loss of Danielle Spencer, best known for her role as Dee Thomas on the popular 1970s sitcom “What’s Happening!!.” Spencer passed away at the age of 60 after battling breast cancer and undergoing a double mastectomy and emergency surgeries. Her brother announced her passing on Instagram, revealing that she had been receiving treatment at a hospital in Richmond, Va.
Born in Trenton, N.J. in 1965, Spencer began her acting career at a young age after her family moved to New York City. At just 11 years old, she landed the role of Dee Thomas on “What’s Happening!!,” a sitcom based on the 1975 film “Cooley High.” The show followed the lives of teenage friends Raj, Dwayne, and Rerun, with Dee as Raj’s sassy younger sister who always kept her brother in check.
Despite initially being planned as a four-episode summer replacement, “What’s Happening!!” was a hit and ran for three seasons from 1976 to 1979. Spencer’s portrayal of Dee endeared her to audiences, making her a fan favorite on the show. However, tragedy struck during the production of the second season when Spencer was involved in a car accident that claimed the life of her stepfather. She spent three weeks in a coma and underwent extensive physical therapy to recover.
After the show’s cancellation, Spencer and her mother relocated to the Ivory Coast before she returned to the U.S. for college. She attended the University of California Davis, where she studied veterinary science. Spencer later pursued a career as a veterinarian in Los Angeles, all while occasionally returning to acting in projects like “As Good as It Gets” and “Days of Our Lives.”
In 2010, Spencer released a memoir titled “Through the Fire … Journal of a Child Star,” which reignited interest in her career. She made appearances on various TV shows and reunited with her “What’s Happening!!” cast members for special events. Spencer eventually moved to Richmond, Va. in 2014, where she hosted a pet care segment on a local TV station and was inducted into the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Throughout her life, Spencer faced challenges with health issues, including a diagnosis of breast cancer in 2014. She was married twice, first to Garry Fields and then to David L. David, with whom she co-hosted a podcast about love and marriage. Spencer is survived by her mother, Cheryl Pelt, and her brother, Jeremy Pelt, a jazz trumpeter.
Danielle Spencer will be remembered for her talent, resilience, and contributions to both the entertainment industry and the field of veterinary medicine. Her legacy lives on through her work and the impact she had on those who knew and loved her.
