The entertainment world is mourning the loss of a beloved figure, Danielle Spencer, who passed away at the age of 60. Known to a generation of television viewers as Dee Thomas, the witty and wise-cracking little sister on the hit 1970s sitcom What’s Happening!!, Spencer’s life was a testament to resilience, versatility, and a deep-seated passion for helping others. Her passing was confirmed by a family spokesperson, who stated she died after a years-long battle with cancer.
Danielle Spencer’s journey began with a natural talent for performance that quickly landed her in the national spotlight. As Dee, the younger sister of main character Roger “Raj” Thomas, she became a fan favorite with her famous catchphrase, “Ooh, I’m gonna tell mama.” Her deadpan humor and sharp one-liners were a perfect foil to the teenage shenanigans of her older brother and his friends. What’s Happening!! was groundbreaking for its time, one of the first sitcoms to center on the lives of Black teenagers, and its memorable characters, including Spencer’s, have left a lasting cultural legacy.
However, Danielle Spencer’s path was marked by a life-altering tragedy. At the age of 12, during the first season of the show, she was involved in a severe car accident that claimed the life of her stepfather, Tim Pelt. The crash left her in a three-week coma and resulted in long-term spinal and neurological problems, requiring multiple surgeries throughout her life. In 2018, she underwent emergency surgery for a brain bleed, an issue directly linked to the 1977 accident. She also faced a separate health battle, being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014, led to a double mastectomy. Despite these immense challenges, Danielle Spencer faced them with a remarkable spirit.
After her time on What’s Happening!! and its mid-1980s reboot, What’s Happening Now!!, Spencer pursued another one of her great loves: animals. She stepped away from the limelight to focus on her education, attending the University of California, Davis, and UCLA, before earning a doctorate in veterinary medicine from Tuskegee University in 1993. For over two decades, she dedicated herself to her new career, becoming a respected veterinarian and a passionate advocate for animal rights. She even blended her two careers in her later years, making a cameo as a veterinarian in the 1997 Jack Nicholson film, As Good as It Gets.
Danielle Spencer’s life was a powerful narrative of a child star who successfully navigated the challenges of fame, faced life’s hardships with immense courage, and forged a second, equally meaningful career. Her legacy is not just the memorable character she created, but also the compassionate and dedicated life she led as a healer for both people and animals. She will be deeply missed by her family, her former castmates, and the many fans who watched her grow up on screen.