The entertainment world and fans everywhere are mourning the loss of Danielle Louise Spencer, best known for captivating audiences as Dee Thomas on the 1970s ABC sitcom What’s Happening! Spencer passed away on Monday in Richmond, Virginia, at the age of 60 after a courageous, long-standing battle with cancer.
Spencer’s journey began in Trenton, New Jersey, in 1965. By age 11, she became a household name as the quick-witted Dee Thomas on What’s Happening!! (1976–1979), delivering memorable lines and her iconic catchphrase: “Ooooh, I’m gonna tell Mama!”
Tragedy struck in 1977 when a car accident claimed her stepfather’s life and left her in a coma for several weeks. Yet, despite this dark moment, her spirit remained unbroken. In the mid-1980s, she returned to reprise her role in What’s Happening Now!! (1985–1988) before stepping away from acting to pursue a career aligned with her deep love for animals.
Inspired by her personal experiences, Spencer earned her veterinary doctorate from Tuskegee University in 1993 after completing her undergraduate studies at UCLA and UC Davis. She settled in Richmond, where she served her community as a veterinarian and regularly shared pet-care insights on WTVR-TV.
Her legacy extends beyond her veterinary practice, as she became the first child actor inducted into the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture in 2014. Despite health challenges, including spinal stenosis and cancer, Spencer continued to inspire those around her.
Her co-star Haywood Nelson paid tribute on social media, calling her “brilliant” and a “pragmatic warrior.” He stated, “We have lost a daughter, sister, family member, and cancer heroine… Danielle is loved. She will be missed.”
Spencer’s life story reflects resilience and transformation. From a beloved child actress to a respected veterinarian, she embraced each chapter with warmth and tenacity. Danielle Spencer will be profoundly missed and forever remembered as a true shero.