Dr. Danielle Spencer, the actress who won over television audiences as the sharp-tongued kid sister Dee Thomas on the hit 1970s sitcom What’s Happening!!, has died at 60 after a long fight with cancer.
The sad news was confirmed by her longtime friend and former co-star Haywood Nelson, who played Dwayne Nelson on the beloved series.
Nelson shared the loss in a heartfelt post on social media Tuesday (August 12), making sure to note she was more than a TV star.
“We have lost a daughter, sister, family member, What’s Happening cast member, veterinarian, animal rights proponent and healer, and cancer heroine,” Nelson wrote. “Our Shero. Danielle is loved. She will be missed in this form and forever embraced.”
Millions remember Spencer for the quick comebacks and side-eye she delivered as Dee from 1976 to 1979 on What’s Happening!! And she later starred in the sequel series What’s Happening Now!!. Spencer carved out a second act far from Hollywood lights. She became a veterinarian, dedicating her life to the care of animals.
Her devotion to veterinary medicine began early. In a 1985 interview with the Amsterdam News during her college years as a pre-veterinary major, Spencer explained, “I’ve always had a knack for caring for animals and I’ve always been interested in chemistry, bacteriology and about the body.”
What’s Happening!! aired on ABC for three seasons, chronicling the lives of three Black teens—Raj (Ernest Lee Thomas), Dwayne (Nelson) and Freddy “Rerun” Stubbs (Fred Berry)—growing up in Los Angeles. Spencer’s Dee was Raj’s whip-smart younger sister, known for keeping the boys in check with perfectly timed zingers.
The 1985 sequel What’s Happening Now!! brought the cast back together as adults navigating new challenges, with Spencer reprising her role until the series ended in 1988.
Spencer’s death marks the end of an era for fans who grew up watching her on primetime TV, but her legacy stretches well beyond the screen. She stood out as a child star who transitioned into a career of service, blending compassion, intellect and determination in every chapter of her life.
For those who loved her work, whether on television or in the clinic, Danielle Spencer leaves behind not only memories of her wit and charm but also a reminder that reinvention is possible, and purpose can be found in many forms.
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