What’s Happening!!star Danielle Spencer, known for playing the character of Deadra “Dee” Thomas, has passed away at the age of 60 years. As the younger sister of the show’s protagonist, Roger Everett Gerald “Raj” Thomas (Ernest Thomas), Dee was one of the main characters in the beloved1970s sitcom.
Even thoughWhat’s Happening!!ended in 1979 after airing for three seasons, Spencer later played Dee again in a recurring role in the sequel seriesWhat’s Happening Now!!, which aired from 1985-1988. Despite being a well-known child TV star, Spencer does not have many acting credits afterWhat’s Happening Now!!and instead went on to become a veterinarian.
On Instagram, the news of Spencer’s death was shared by herWhat’s Happening!!co-starHaywood Nelson, who played Dwayne Clemens Nelson in the show. Nelson revealed that Spencer had passed away after"a long battle with cancer.“Read his post below:
Danielle Spencer’s Career & Legacy Explained
Spencer was born on June 15, 2025 in Trenton, New Jersey. She was cast inWhat’s Happening!!in 1976, with the sitcom being a loose adaptation of the 1975 filmCooley Highstarring Glynn Turman.What’s Happening!!was initially intended to be a summer mid-season replacement, but its high viewership led to a full season order for Spencer and the rest of the cast.
Personal tragedy struck Spencer’s life in 1977 duringWhat’s Happening!!season 2, when she was in a car accident with her stepfather, Tim Pelt, that led to his death and her being in a three-week coma. She later reflected on this tragedy in her 2011 memoirThrough the Fire … Journey of a Child Star.
While Dee was not a teenager in the show, she is an integral part of its enduring legacy.
Dee’s witty humor made her a fan-favorite in theall-time great sitcom. Beyond the humor, the show is considered groundbreaking for exploring the lives of Black teenagers, including Dee’s older teenage brother, Raj, and Nelson’s character, Dwayne. While Dee was not a teenager in the show, she is an integral part of its enduring legacy.
What’s Happening Now!!focused on Raj, Dwayne, and other characters after they graduated from college, and continued to build on the original show’s popularity. Spencer appeared in 16 episodes of the sequel series. Except for a 2001Days of Our Livesepisode,What’s Happening Now!!was her final television credit.
Spencer later studied veterinary medicine at the University of California-Davis and became a successful veterinarian and an activist for animal rights. She also portrayed a veterinarian in the 1997Jack Nicholson movieAs Good As It Getsand in the 2001 short filmPeter Rabbit and the Crucifix.
Our Take On Danielle Spencer’s Legacy
The news of Spencer’s death is equally shocking and heartbreaking. She played an essential part in a groundbreaking sitcom, helping to ensure that the genre could explore important topics and provide greater representation. BeyondWhat’s Happening!!, Spencer is also a testament to how child stars can pursue and thrive on paths other than acting if they choose to do so.
