Few child stars have ever owned the screen like Danielle “Dee” Spencer. With her razor-sharp wit, expressive energy, and the kind of side-eye that could level grown men, she stole the spotlight on the beloved ‘70s sitcom “What’s Happening!!.” But behind all the laughter, she endured a life riddled with extraordinary highs, devastating lows, and battles that would test even the strongest spirit.
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In the decades between her rise as television’s beloved little sister and her final days as a veterinarian and health advocate, Spencer endured a near-fatal car accident, chronic health complications, and multiple cancer diagnoses — challenges she faced head-on with grit, and a grace that defined her beyond the fame.
Let’s take a journey through Danielle Spencer’s remarkable life — from her rise as a television icon to the personal battles that shaped her courage and legacy.
A Star Is Born
Danielle Spencer was born on June 24, 1965, in Trenton, New Jersey, and grew up between New York and Los Angeles. From a young age, she showed a natural talent for performance, often charming family and friends with her quick wit and expressive personality.
Encouraged by her mother, Cheryl Pelt, Spencer began pursuing acting professionally, and it wasn’t long before her gifts caught the attention of casting directors.
The Start of “What’s Happening!!”
Her stepfather, Tim Pelt, attended theatrical ensembles with “fabulous actors” in the city, exposing her to the real profession of acting for the first time as a child. At just 11 years old, Spencer landed the role of Dee Thomas on “What’s Happening!!” (1976–1979) unexpectedly, after a play date that would ultimately change the trajectory of her young life.
“Back then, you think you’re going on a play date… you’re gonna hang out, go to the office. And you read some lines, and then the next thing I knew I had the role,” Spencer revealed in an interview. “I didn’t know how to feel.”
Instant Pop Culture Icon
Though she was the youngest member of the main cast, her sass and comedic timing often stole the spotlight from the older characters — cementing her place in sitcom history. Her quick comebacks and now-iconic “Ooooh, I’m gonna tell Mama!” made her a household name, especially amongst Black folks.
Taking on the role of Roger “Raj” Thomas’s messy little sister, Dee’s ability to reveal her brother’s behavior—with the threat of telling their mother—often led to iconic comedic moments throughout the series.
The 1977 Crash That Changed Everything
In September 1977, at just 12 years old, Danielle Spencer was involved in a devastating car accident that would alter the course of her life. The crash tragically claimed the life of her stepfather, Tim Pelt, and left Spencer with severe spinal injuries, including damage that would cause grave health issues in her future.
“I don’t remember the hospital stay, I don’t remember almost that entire period. However of course it changed my life,” Spencer told OWN. “ I broke my right leg, my left arm, I was in a coma for three weeks, and I also broke my pelvis. Fortunately for me, I had the whole summer to heal and I was right back on the show for that final season,” she explained.
Spencer Was Briefly Paralyzed
Spencer’s healing journey got complicated once she started experiencing tingling and numbness in her legs to the point of “falling over” when trying on jeans. And while she was grateful that her broken bones had healed, a complications led to a “calcified disc” in her upper back.
“He did the surgery and I woke up the next day and I had no feeling from my breasts down. I was paralyzed,” Spencer told OWN. “I remember the time when I walked like 100 feet in the physical therapist place and everyone was crying. They got me to a point where I’m able to walk on crutches,” she said of her miracle comeback.
“I still know there’s a plan for me, I’m still here for a reason… what I’m going though is for someone else, not me.”
A Triumphant Return
The actress reprised her role as Dee Thomas in “What’s Happening Now!!” from 1985 to 1988, per the Los Angeles Times. Her comeback allowed fans to see Dee as a young adult navigating college life and the chance to showcase a more mature side of her comedic talent.
Despite the years away from Hollywood, she effortlessly stepped back into the role, proving that her charm and timing had only grown sharper with age.
From Sitcom Star to Veterinarian
Determined to pursue other passions in life, Spencer earned a doctorate in veterinary medicine from Tuskegee University in 1993 and built a career as a veterinarian in Virginia, per the Hollywood Reporter.
“I knew I wanted to work with animals but I didn’t know in what capacity. But I always loved animals,” confesses Spencer. “They were my closest friends sometimes growing up,” she expressed, per Black Doctor.
Spencer’s Heartbreaking Breast Cancer Diagnosis
In 2014, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy. She spoke openly about her grueling experience, and encouraged viewers to pursue early detection — especially in the Black community. Spencer described the journey as “an awful time,” adding that she had to “keep praying.”
“My mom, my brother, my husband, and everyone… they would try to encourage me. They didn’t want me to think of suicide, even though I had considered it,” she revealed, expressing how much treatment “ravaged her body.”
“I’m such a stronger person now,” she admitted. “I have no fear now.”
Emergency Brain Surgery
In 2018, the beloved actress was hospitalized for emergency brain surgery due to complications from spinal stenosis, per the Washington Post, highlighting the severity of the crash she endured back in 1977. Spencer faced the procedure with the same quiet strength she had shown throughout her life, determined not to let it slow her down.
Per the news hub, the surgery was from a bleeding hematoma. Reports say following her surgery, she could barely speak, and had required crutches to walk.
Love and Family
Spencer was married twice. Her first marriage was to marketing manager and publicist Garry Fields from 1999 until their divorce in 2013. In 2014, she tied the knot with fashion designer and entrepreneur David L. David, per Variety.
The couple co-hosted the podcast “Living with Danielle and David,” where the two shared honest conversations about love, marriage, and life in the entertainment world with a lineup of notable guests.
Cancer Makes A Return
Following her double mastectomy in 2014, it seems her battle with cancer made a return as Newsweek revealed that the actress was battling gastric cancer at the time of her death, as well as cardiac arrest.
It seems details surrounding her gastric cancer diagnosis never became public, and remains unknown.
A Legacy of Laughter and Strength
From her unforgettable role as Dee to her decades of service as a veterinarian and health advocate, Danielle Spencer’s story is one of resilience — a reminder that behind every quick-witted sitcom character is a human being who has fought battles we may never see. She also became an advocate for cancer awareness and spinal injury survivors, per Soulful Screen TV.
The star spent her last years on her veterinary work, public appearances, and enjoying her life in Richmond, Virginia. Her friends claimed she never lost her sense of humor, or her ability to make people smile amid even the hardest times.
Farewell Surrounded by Love
On August 11, Danielle Spencer was surrounded by her family and loved ones when she passed away following complications due to gastric cancer, and cardiac arrest. Her passing marked the end of a life defined by resilience, humor, and an unwavering dedication to both her craft and her community.
Fans and colleagues alike remember her not just as Dee Thomas, but as a woman who faced life’s hardships with courage and grace, leaving a legacy sure to endure for generations.
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