Danielle Spencer, the former child actor who starred in the popular show What’s Happening!!, died on August 11 at the age of 60. She is most familiar for her portrayal of Dee Thomas on the 1970s TV show “What’s Happening!!” She suffered the effects of complications from gastric cancer and cardiac arrest. Her legacy in entertainment and veterinary medicine reaches far beyond her years.
Spencer dazzled us for 65 episodes of “What’s Happening!!” from 1976 to 1979. She would later reprise that role for another 16 episodes in the sequel series “What’s Happening Now!” As the younger sister of the show’s main characters, she became a cherished figure to audiences and was remembered for her spirited performances.
Behind her impressive acting career, Spencer overcame a lot of hardship in her life. In 1977, she was involved in a fatal automobile accident. It took the life of her stepfather and manager, Tim Pelt, who had introduced her to the world of acting. Even with this loss and a brush with breast cancer, she was resilient, vibrant and always committed to her passions, including her late parents’ legacy.
In 1993, Spencer became the first African-American woman to obtain a doctorate in veterinary medicine, representing her dedication to the animal welfare industry. After moving from California to the Richmond, Virginia area in 2014 and living with her mother, Cheryl Pelt. When she passed on, she was with family, including her younger brother, jazz musician Jeremy Pelt.
In a 2016 oral history interview, Spencer looked back on her career. Talking about her being named a honoree by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, she said
“I mean, first of all, that the show is remembered from 40 years ago, but then also to be featured in this museum along with other shows that have been trailblazers,” – Danielle Spencer
Jeremy Pelt shared his thoughts on his sister’s impact, stating, “Many of you knew her as ‘Dee,’ but she was more than a child actress.” He went on to further emphasize her complexity, stating,
“She was a friend, an auntie to my three children who adored her. She was a daughter—and in many ways, my mother’s best friend. She was a veterinarian, someone who always remained positive even during her darkest days fighting this disease.”
For actress and producer Danielle Spencer, her rise and success in Hollywood all started with one fateful phone call that would change her life forever.
“And she was MY sister and protector.”
Danielle Spencer’s journey in Hollywood began with a simple phone call that changed her life forever.
“A month later I got a phone call, and they said, ‘Fly out to California. You have the role.’ And it was just like my life changed,” – Danielle Spencer
