Dr. Danielle Spencer, best known for her role as the witty Dee Thomas on the 1970s ABC sitcom What’s Happening!!, passed away on August 11, 2025, at the age of 60 in a Richmond, Virginia hospital. Her death was confirmed by her former co-star Haywood Nelson and brother Jeremy Pelt, who cited a long battle with cancer as the cause.
Born on June 24, 1965, in Trenton, New Jersey, Spencer rose to fame as the precocious younger sister Dee, charming audiences with her catchphrase, “Ooooh, I’m gonna tell Mama!” The show, which ran from 1976 to 1979, was followed by a sequel, What’s Happening Now!! (1985–1988), where she reprised her role. Beyond acting, Spencer pursued a remarkable second career, earning a doctorate in veterinary medicine from Tuskegee University in 1993. She practiced as a veterinarian in California and later Richmond, Virginia, where she also hosted pet care segments on WTVR-TV.
Spencer’s life was marked by resilience. In 1977, she survived a car accident that killed her stepfather, Tim Pelt, and left her in a coma for three weeks. She later faced spinal stenosis, temporary paralysis, and breast cancer diagnosed in 2014, which led to a double mastectomy. In 2018, she underwent emergency brain surgery for a hematoma linked to the earlier crash. Despite these challenges, she remained a positive force, earning recognition as the first child star inducted into the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Tributes from fans and colleagues poured in, with Nelson calling her a “brilliant, loving, pragmatic warrior” and a “cancer heroine.” Spencer is survived by her mother, Cheryl, and brother, Jeremy. Her legacy as a trailblazing actress, dedicated veterinarian, and inspiring figure endures.
