Danielle Spencer, Star of “What’s Happening!!,” Dies at 60
Written by Site Hub on August 13, 2025
Danielle Spencer, known for her iconic role as Dee Thomas on the 1970s sitcom What’s Happening!!, died at 60 after a long battle with cancer. Spencer was a child star who became a veterinarian, overcoming serious injuries from a 1977 car crash that left her in a coma. Despite lifelong health complications, she remained an advocate for animals and continued to act occasionally, even playing a veterinarian in As Good as It Gets. Her deadpan delivery and iconic line “Ooh, I’m gonna tell mama” made Dee a standout character. Spencer was part of one of the first shows to depict Black teenage life and later appeared in the reboot What’s Happening Now!!. Her legacy extends beyond entertainment into medicine and activism.
Source: AP News
Image Source: ABC Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
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