The entertainment world lost a beloved face and resilient spirit when Danielle Spencer, the extraordinary “Dee Thomas” from ABC’s What’s Happening!!, passed away at 60 in Richmond, Virginia, after a valiant fight with cancer.
“Dr. Dee, our brilliant, loving, positive, pragmatic warrior, without fail, has finally found her release from the clutches of this world and a body,” her longtime friend and co-star Haywood Nelson shared on social media. “We celebrate Danielle Spencer and her contributions as we regret to inform her departure and transition from a long battle with cancer.”
Born June 24, 1965, in Trenton, New Jersey, Spencer was raised by her mother, Cheryl Pelt, and later by her stepfather, Tim Pelt, whom she fondly called her dad. The family finally moved to the Bronx, where Spencer began acting classes at just eight years old. In 1976, her life changed eternally when she was cast as Dee Thomas on What’s Happening!!, a sitcom loosely inspired by Cooley High. Originally a summer replacement, the show exploded into a cultural phenomenon, running until 1979.
As a child star, Spencer also had unforgettable roles in The Brady Bunch Special (1977), Christmas at Walt Disney World (1978), The Tap Dance Kid (1978), Family Feud (1979) and Soul Train (1987). In 2006, she was awarded the title from TV Land “Brattiest Kid on Television,” an award she took pride in.
On September 6, 1977, while filming the show’s second season, Spencer’s world was shattered.
A harrowing car accident left her in a three-week coma and claimed the life of her stepfather, who died protecting her. Six months of grueling physiologic therapy followed, a recovery she faced while still in the public eye. Following her roaring stint in the spotlight, Spencer made a bold decision. Encouraged by her posthumous stepfather’s dream for her, she pursued veterinary medicine, attending UC Davis and later graduating from Tuskegee University Veterinary School in 1996.
She would return to acting in What’s Happening Now!!. (1985–1988 ) and even appeared in As Good as It Gets (1997), but her primary focus was caring for animals, first in California, later in Richmond, Virginia, where she also hosted pet care TV segments. In 2004, Spencer underwent spinal surgery after lingering injuries from the 1977 accident left her partially paralyzed for eight months. She credited the Kessler Institute for helping her walk again.
A decade later, she was inducted into the National Museum of African American History and Culture, making history as the only former child actor to receive that honor. Spencer was also a proud Delta Sigma Theta soror, fashion designer and unwavering advocate for animals and health awareness.
In 2014, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Determined to fight, she underwent a multiple mastectomy. Four years later, in 2018, another medical emergency struck, this time, bleeding on the brain that required complex surgery.
Spencer’s last acting role came in a 2001 episode of Days of Our Lives where she was a Salem Place Vendor.
Rest in Power, Danielle “Dee Thomas” Spencer!
