Today, we mourn the loss of Danielle Spencer, beloved for her iconic role as Dee Thomas on the 1970s ABC sitcom What's Happening!! and its sequel What's Happening Now!! Spencer passed away on August 11, 2025, at the age of 60 in a Richmond, Virginia hospital after a courageous battle with cancer. Her vibrant spirit, trailblazing career, and inspiring resilience leave a lasting legacy that will continue to touch hearts.
Biography
Born on June 24, 1965, in Trenton, New Jersey, Danielle Spencer grew up in the Bronx, New York, raised by her mother, Cheryl Pelt, and her stepfather, Tim Pelt, whom she considered her father. Her stepfather, an actor himself, introduced her to the world of performing arts at a young age. By age seven, Spencer began acting, landing uncredited roles in films like Serpico (1973) and Harry and Tonto (1974). At just 11 years old, she auditioned for and won the role of Dee Thomas on What's Happening!!, a groundbreaking sitcom that was among the first to center on the lives of Black teenagers in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles. The show, loosely based on the 1975 film Cooley High, became a cultural touchstone, and Spencer’s portrayal of the sassy, quick-witted Dee, known for her signature catchphrase “Ooooh, I’m gonna tell Mama!”, made her a household name.
Tragically, during the production of the show’s second season in 1977, Spencer and her stepfather were involved in a severe car accident on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, California. The crash claimed Tim Pelt’s life and left Spencer in a coma for three weeks, with injuries including a broken leg, arm, and pelvis. She spent six months in physical therapy, demonstrating remarkable strength to return to acting. After What’s Happening!! ended in 1979, Spencer and her mother briefly relocated to the Ivory Coast before she returned to pursue higher education. She later reprised her role as Dee in What’s Happening Now!! (1985–1988), appearing in 16 episodes while attending college.
Spencer’s determination extended beyond acting. Inspired by her stepfather’s encouragement, she pursued veterinary medicine, earning a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Davis, and a doctorate from Tuskegee University Veterinary School in 1993. She became a licensed veterinarian in 1996, practicing in Santa Clarita, California, and later in Richmond, Virginia, where she moved in 2014 to be closer to family. Spencer also made occasional acting appearances, including a role as a veterinarian in the 1997 film As Good as It Gets and in the 2001 short film Peter Rabbit and the Crucifix.
Accomplishments in Acting and Personal Life
Danielle Spencer’s role as Dee Thomas was a landmark in television history. As the first Black female child star to have a regular role on a network TV series, she broke barriers and inspired generations. Her performance earned her a place in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture in 2014, an honor she described as humbling in a 2016 interview with a Richmond TV station. She reflected, “I seriously can’t even digest it... to be featured in this museum along with other shows that have been trailblazers.” Her work on What’s Happening!! (64 episodes) and What’s Happening Now!! (16 episodes) remains celebrated for its humor and cultural significance.
Beyond acting, Spencer’s accomplishments as a veterinarian showcased her compassion and dedication. She hosted pet care segments on WTVR-TV in Richmond and advocated for animal rights, drawing from her own experiences with spinal injuries to emphasize holistic animal care. In 2012, she told People magazine that her perspective shifted from simply alleviating animals’ pain to addressing underlying causes, a philosophy shaped by her own health challenges.
Spencer’s personal life was marked by resilience and creativity. She married Garry Fields in 1999, though they divorced in 2013, and later married David L. David in 2014. She also ventured into fashion, launching the “Dani Collection,” a clothing line inspired by her personal style. Her 2012 book, Through the Fire: Journal of a Child Star, detailed her journey as a child actor and her triumphs over adversity, earning her appearances on shows like The Wendy Williams Show and Unsung Hollywood. In 2006, she and Little House on the Prairie’s Alison Arngrim won the TV Land Award for “Character Most in Need of a Time-Out,” a nod to Dee’s mischievous charm.
Health Challenges and Cause of Death
Spencer faced significant health struggles throughout her life. The 1977 car accident left her with lasting spinal and neurological issues, including spinal stenosis diagnosed in 2004, which caused partial paralysis for eight months. She underwent multiple surgeries, including a 2018 emergency procedure to remove a bleeding hematoma linked to the accident. In 2014, Spencer was diagnosed with breast cancer, a shock given her family history and previous health battles. She opted for a double mastectomy and underwent chemotherapy, which was complicated by her prior injuries. Though she was declared cancer-free for a time, Spencer succumbed to cancer on August 11, 2025, as confirmed by her co-star Haywood Nelson and family spokesperson Sandra Jones. The specific type of cancer was not disclosed, but her long fight was marked by courage, as Nelson noted: “She suffered for a very long time but did it with a great deal of courage.”[](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/danielle-spencer-death-whats-happening-actor-b2806317.html)[](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/danielle-spencer-dead-whats-happening-1236342214/)
A Lasting Legacy
Danielle Spencer was more than Dee Thomas; she was a daughter, sister, aunt, veterinarian, and advocate who faced life’s challenges with grace and positivity. Her brother, jazz musician Jeremy Pelt, paid tribute on Instagram, writing, “She was a friend, an auntie to my three children who adored her, she was a daughter—and in many ways, my mother’s best friend... And she was MY sister and protector.” Her co-star Haywood Nelson called her “our brilliant, loving, positive, pragmatic warrior,” adding, “Danielle is loved. She will be missed in this form and forever embraced.”[](https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/whats-happening-star-danielle-spencer-dies-60/story?id=124582939)[](https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2025/08/12/danielle-spencer-whats-hapenning-dead/85628099007/)[](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/danielle-spencer-dead-whats-happening-1236342214/)
I enjoyed watching What's Happening!! with my sisters as a kid, and enjoyed it very must. It was a clean show that was hilarious and gave us a perspective of the Black community in a positive light. Spencer’s legacy lives on through her groundbreaking contributions to television, her compassionate work as a veterinarian, and her unwavering spirit. She inspired countless fans with her talent and resilience, reminding us to face life’s trials with courage and to find joy in making a difference. Rest in peace, Danielle Spencer—your light will continue to shine.
Sources:
Information compiled from ABC News, USA Today, Wikipedia, The Independent, Rolling Stone, PBS News, Collider, The Hollywood Reporter, and posts on X.[](https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/whats-happening-star-danielle-spencer-dies-60/story?id=124582939)[]
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danielle_Spencer_%28American_actress%29)
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