Danielle Spencer, beloved ‘What’s Happening!!’ child star, dies at 60

Danielle Spencer, the actress who charmed audiences as Dee Thomas on the classic 1970s sitcom What’s Happening!!, has died at age 60.

Her brother announced the news Monday on Instagram, confirming she passed away at a hospital in Richmond, Virginia. Spencer had faced health challenges in recent years, including a breast cancer diagnosis, a double mastectomy, and multiple surgeries.

Born in Trenton, New Jersey, in 1965, Spencer began acting after her family moved to New York City. At 11, she landed the role of Dee Thomas — the quick-witted, sharp-tongued younger sister of Raj Thomas — on What’s Happening!!, which aired on ABC from 1976 to 1979. The sitcom, inspired by the film Cooley High, became a cultural touchstone, and Spencer’s character quickly became a fan favorite.

After the series ended, Spencer moved to the Ivory Coast before returning to the U.S. to study veterinary science at UC Davis, later earning her doctorate from Tuskegee University in 1993. She built a two-decade veterinary career in Los Angeles while making occasional acting appearances, including roles in As Good as It Gets and Days of Our Lives.

In 2010, she published her memoir Through the Fire … Journal of a Child Star, sparking renewed interest in her life and career. She was inducted into the National Museum of African American History and Culture in 2014 and later hosted a pet care segment for Richmond’s WTVR-TV.

Spencer is survived by her mother, Cheryl Pelt, and brother, jazz trumpeter Jeremy Pelt.