Danielle Spencer, Child Star of What’s Happening!!, Dead at 60

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Hollywood is mourning one of their own.

Danielle Spencer, who gained fame for portraying Dee Thomas on the 1970s sitcom “What’s Happening!!”, has passed away at the age of 60. This tragic news has been verified by her former costar, Haywood Nelson.

Although the authorities haven’t disclosed the specific reason for her demise, Nelson mentioned that Spencer had been fighting a prolonged battle against cancer prior to her passing.

In simpler terms, Nelson, who played Dwayne Nelson on “What’s Happening!!”, posted on Instagram on August 12 that “Dr. Dee” (our amazing, caring, optimistic, practical fighter) has now been freed from the grasp of this world and her physical form.

I exclaimed, “We’ve lost a cherished daughter, sister, family member, beloved actress from ‘What’s Happening’, dedicated veterinarian, passionate advocate for animal rights, and valiant fighter against cancer. Our heroine. Danielle was adored. Her absence will be deeply felt in this world, yet her spirit will forever be enveloped by our love.

In simpler terms, Nelson shared with The Hollywood Reporter that she passed away at a hospital in Richmond, Virginia, on August 11. She endured a lot but showed incredible bravery throughout her struggle.

TopMob News has reached out to Spencer’s rep for a comment.

For several decades, Spencer had been absent from the glamour of Hollywood, but she left a lasting impression on television as Dee in the series What’s Happening!! for three seasons. She was particularly recognized for her signature phrase, “I’m going to tell Mama!

She reprised the role again in 1985 as a recurring guest star on the reboot, What’s Happening Now!

Instead of pursuing a single career, her deep affection for animals guided her to a second profession – that of a veterinarian. She studied at the University of California, Davis, where she obtained her veterinary medicine degree, and later earned her doctorate from Tuskegee University Veterinary School in 1993.

For twenty-two years, Spencer honed his skills in California. In 2014, he decided to relocate to Richmond to be nearer to his family. Remarkably, that very year, he became the inaugural child star to be enshrined in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.

2014 was also the year Spencer was diagnosed with breast cancer.

For over a year, I had a lump. It wasn’t until my visit to Richmond that the doctor suggested we perform a biopsy on it. Later, I discovered the results.” She shared this with the Richmond Times Dispatch in 2016.

Spencer underwent a double mastectomy.

She went on to say that it was undeniably one of her most challenging periods in life. During those times, she felt utterly powerless, unable to act as she wished. This powerlessness often resulted in feelings of deep sadness, or what we commonly know as depression. However, she had an abundance of support from friends and family during this tough phase.

The recent diagnosis took Spencer by surprise, given that she was already dealing with the aftermath of a spinal issue detected in 2003. This health problem might have stemmed from a car accident in 1977 involving her stepfather Tim Pelt and herself, an incident that claimed Pelt’s life and left Spencer unconscious for three months.

Due to a spinal injury, surgeons had to take out a hardened disc from her back, leading to her becoming unable to move her lower body.

Thankfully, after years of physical therapy, Spencer was able to walk again.

In 2018, issues related to the car crash resurfaced as Spencer found herself battling severe headaches, which necessitated an urgent brain surgery to extract a hematoma that had developed following the accident. This information was shared through a GoFundMe campaign established for her.

Despite the hardships, Spencer looked back on her life in a positive light. 

She advised ‘Live each moment for yourself’ to Hers magazine in 2016, as reported by THR. Essentially, she encouraged enjoying oneself, maintaining a carefree spirit, and embracing happiness since you don’t know when life might come to an end.

Spencer is survived by her mother Cheryl Pelt and her brother Jeremy.

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2025-08-12 22:47