Danielle Spencer, best known for her unforgettable portrayal of Dee Thomas on the groundbreaking ABC sitcom What’s Happening!!, passed away at the age of 60. Her passing was announced by co-star Haywood Nelson on Instagram, where he described her as “brilliant, loving, positive, pragmatic” and honored her courageous journey through illness and recovery.
Born June 24, 1965, in the Bronx, New York, Spencer began acting at around age eight. She rose to fame playing Dee Thomas from 1976 to 1979, later reprising the role in the sequel What’s Happening Now!! (1985–1988) while pursuing a degree in veterinary medicine.
In 1977, tragedy struck when Spencer and her stepfather were involved in a severe car accident. Her stepfather died while protecting her, and she spent three weeks in a coma followed by six months of recovery.
After the original series ended, Spencer pursued higher education at UC Davis before attending Tuskegee University Veterinary School. She earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1996 and practiced in California while occasionally appearing in small acting roles, including As Good as It Gets (1997) and Peter Rabbit and the Crucifix (2001).
Throughout her life she endured significant health battles. In 2004, surgery to correct spinal stenosis left her partially paralyzed for eight months, from which she recovered after intensive rehabilitation. She was later diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014 and spoke publicly about her treatment and gratitude for the support she received.
Spencer made history as the only former child actor featured in the National Museum of African American History and Culture’s permanent exhibition, a testament to her cultural impact.
Haywood Nelson’s Instagram tribute described Spencer as a daughter, sister, beloved family member, star of What’s Happening!!, veterinarian, animal rights advocate, healer, and survivor “from a long battle with cancer.” Her memory, he wrote, “will be forever embraced” by all who loved her.
Danielle Spencer’s legacy endures in her trailblazing career, her service as a compassionate veterinarian, and her unbreakable spirit.