Danielle Spencer, the beloved actress who captured hearts as the sharp-tongued little sister Dee Thomas on the classic 1970s sitcom What’s Happening!!, has died at the age of 60. A family spokesperson confirmed that Spencer passed away on Monday at a hospital in Richmond, Virginia, following a years-long battle with cancer.
As Dee, Spencer was the smarter, more serious younger sibling who became a fan favorite for her deadpan roasts of her big brother Roger “Raj” Thomas and his friends. Her memorable catchphrase, “Ooh, I’m gonna tell mama,” became a cultural staple. The show, which ran on ABC from 1976 to 1979, was among the first on television to focus on the lives of Black teenagers and is remembered for its iconic characters, including the geeky Raj and the dancing phenom Rerun.
Spencer’s life was marked by remarkable resilience. Early in the show’s first season, at just 12 years old, she was involved in a major car accident that left her in a three-week coma and tragically killed her stepfather. The crash caused spinal and neurological problems that would require multiple surgeries throughout her life. In 2018, she underwent emergency surgery for a bleeding hematoma stemming from the 1977 accident. She had also been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014, leading to a double mastectomy.
Despite these health challenges, Spencer pursued a new passion, earning a doctorate in veterinary medicine from Tuskegee University in 1993. She went on to become a dedicated veterinarian and advocate for animals. Her former co-star, Haywood Nelson, who played Dwayne on the show, paid tribute to her on Instagram, honoring her as a “brilliant, loving, positive, pragmatic warrior” and a “cancer heroine.”
Spencer, who began acting at age nine, also appeared in the mid-1980s reboot What’s Happening Now!! and had a role as a veterinarian in the 1997 Jack Nicholson film, As Good as it Gets. She is survived by her mother, Cheryl Pelt, and her brother, musician Jeremy Pelt.