Hollywood has lost not just a familiar face from America’s living rooms, but a fighter who embodied grit, faith, and perseverance. Danielle Spencer — who captured hearts as the sharp-witted Dee Thomas on the classic sitcom What’s Happening!! — has passed away at the age of 60 after a long battle with cancer.
Her death was confirmed by her co-star Haywood Nelson, who honored her as “our brilliant, loving, positive, pragmatic warrior” and praised her lifelong contributions not only to entertainment, but to the veterinary field and animal welfare causes.
For many Americans who grew up in the late ’70s, Spencer was more than a sitcom star — she was part of the cultural fabric of a time when television still offered wholesome humor and family-centered storylines. What’s Happening!!, loosely inspired by the 1975 film Cooley High, aired from 1976 to 1979 on ABC. The show’s family-friendly comedy — along with its spinoff, What’s Happening Now!! in the mid-1980s — stood in stark contrast to the cynical and often vulgar programming that dominates television today.
Spencer’s life was not without tragedy. In 1977, during production of the show’s second season, she and her stepfather, Tim Pelt, were involved in a horrific car accident. Pelt died trying to protect her, and Spencer spent three weeks in a coma, with multiple broken bones. Yet she returned to the show the next season, refusing to let the accident end her career.
Years later, lingering injuries from that crash left her temporarily paralyzed. Through surgery, grueling physical therapy, and sheer determination, she regained the ability to walk — a testament to her resilience and faith.
After leaving Hollywood, Spencer pursued her passion for helping animals. She studied veterinary medicine at the University of California, Davis, and later at the prestigious Tuskegee University Veterinary School, becoming a licensed veterinarian. It was a career path that reflected her compassion and her belief in service over celebrity.
Her personal battles continued. In 2014, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy. She admitted she was stunned by the diagnosis after already having faced so much physically, but she met the challenge head-on. In 2018, she survived emergency brain surgery to treat bleeding on her brain.
Through it all, Spencer credited God’s strength for carrying her through the trials. Her 2011 memoir, Through the Fire… Journal of a Child Star, detailed her journey from television fame to a career in veterinary medicine, along with the life-altering events that shaped her.
Before her passing, friends and fans rallied to support her through a GoFundMe campaign, raising more than \$10,000 for her medical expenses.
Danielle Spencer leaves behind a legacy that transcends Hollywood — one defined by perseverance, service, and faith. In an industry that too often celebrates the shallow and sensational, her life stands as a reminder of what truly matters: using your talents, enduring hardship with grace, and giving back to the world in ways that last far longer than fame.
