Danielle Spencer, the Unforgettable Dee from What’s Happening!!, Has Died at 60
She passed away on August 11, 2025, after a long and courageous battle with cancer
Danielle Spencer—cherished for her role as Dee Thomas on the 1970s sitcom What’s Happening!!—passed away on August 11, 2025, at the age of 60 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Her co-star Haywood Nelson confirmed the news, describing her as “brilliant, loving, positive, pragmatic”—a title that beautifully encapsulates her legacy.
Spencer rose to fame at just 11 years old with her memorable catchphrase, “Ooooh, I’m gonna tell Mama!” as Dee Thomas. A role she reprised in the sequel What’s Happening Now!! during the ’80s. Yet, her life after acting was defined by strength, resilience, and reinvention.
Surviving a traumatic car accident in 1977 that tragically claimed her stepfather’s life, Spencer was hospitalized in a coma for three weeks. The recovery was long and difficult, but she never lost her spark—and later wrote about the experience in her memoir Through the Fire: Journal of a Child Star.
Damn Dee…. 🕊️
Danielle Spencer, who was most known for playing Dee Thomas, on the sitcom What’s Happening!! has died at 60 years old. pic.twitter.com/HG7Sh8oqrT
— PrimeEraHouse (@PrimeEraStore) August 12, 2025
From Acting to Veterinary Medicine
In a remarkable turn, Danielle Spencer redirected her life toward a new passion—veterinary medicine. She earned her DVM from Tuskegee University in 1993 and built a successful career as a veterinarian, even hosting public-facing segments on pet care for Richmond’s morning news.
Her later years were marked by unwavering dignity in the face of serious health challenges. She battled breast cancer, underwent a double mastectomy, and later survived emergency brain surgery caused by complications from her earlier accident, as reported by The Sun.
Born on June 24th 1965 in Bronx, NY., This Amazing Child Actress is Most Known to Us For Playing Dee Thomas in the Hit Sitcom What’s Happening! #daniellespencer #whatshappening pic.twitter.com/eUU8OlrUvb
— 80sThen80sNow (@80sThen80sNow) August 12, 2025
Danielle Spencer’s life story is far more than a tale of early TV success—it’s a testament to reinvention and resilience. She proved it’s possible to change course, find new purpose, and face adversity with grace.
Her legacy lives on in both laughter and healing. Remembered as a beloved television icon and as Dr. Spencer, the compassionate veterinarian who never stopped sharing her light.