Danielle Spencer : Actress, Veterinarian, and Survivor

Danielle Spencer, best remembered for her role as the witty, lovable, and often hilariously outspoken teenager “Dee Thomas” on the 1970s hit sitcom What’s Happening!! and its spinoff What’s Happening Now!!, passed away on Monday at Chippenham Hospital in Richmond, Va. She was 60.

Danielle had special ties to the Newburgh, New York community, first visiting as a student at Davis University while filming What’s Happening Now!!. During that visit, she was honored by the Community Theater Group, led by Billie McClearn, alongside Derek Wilson and the late Reverend Sylvester McClearn.

As “Dee,” Danielle became a household name, captivating audiences with her sharp wit and trademark line, “Ooohh, I’m tellin’ Mama!” — a performance that earned her the 2006 TV Land Award for “Character Most Desperately in Need of a Timeout.”

Her career spanned television, film, and appearances on beloved programs including Soul Train, The Brady Bunch Special, and Days of Our Lives.

Her life was defined by resilience. In 1977, Danielle survived a devastating car accident that claimed her stepfather’s life and left her in a coma for three weeks. Decades later, lingering injuries briefly confined her to a wheelchair, but through determination and intensive therapy, she regained her mobility.

Fulfilling a lifelong dream, Danielle earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Tuskegee University in 1993, dedicating much of her adult life to the care of animals. She chronicled her personal and professional journey in her 2011 memoir, Through the Fire… Journal of a Child Star.

In 2014, she bravely faced and overcame breast cancer. She went on to launch the “Forever Danielle” candle line, inspire young girls through a veterinarian doll created in her likeness, and was inducted into the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture as the youngest African American female child star on a television sitcom.

Danielle Spencer’s life reflected artistry, compassion, perseverance, and inspiration. Her legacy will continue to shine brightly for generations to come.