Obituary: Danielle Spencer dies at 60

Danielle Spencer, who played Dee Thomas on the 1970s sitcom What’s Happening, has died at age 60 after a battle with cancer.

Danielle Spencer dies at 60 former What’s Happening cast member

Danielle Spencer, known for her role as Dee Thomas on the ABC sitcom What’s Happening, died on Monday at age 60. Her former co star Haywood Nelson announced the news on Instagram, describing Spencer as a bright and resilient presence who fought cancer with grace. Born in Trenton, New Jersey in 1965, Spencer began acting at eight and joined the show in 1976, remaining for its three seasons and later appearing in the sequel What’s Happening Now. In 1977 she survived a serious car crash that killed her stepfather Tim Pelt and left her in a coma for three weeks, a trauma she carried into years of recovery.

After What’s Happening finished in 1979, Spencer stepped back from acting to study veterinary science. She earned degrees from UC Davis and Tuskegee University and became a veterinarian in 1996. Her on screen appearances later included a veterinary role in As Good as It Gets and parts in Peter Rabbit and the Crucifix (2001), Days of Our Lives, and The Brady Bunch Variety Hour. Her life reflects a remarkable blend of artistic talent and public service, with a career that moved from television screens to the operating room of animal care.

Spencer’s story is more than a résumé of roles. It underscores a long tradition in show business of artists reinventing themselves after fame fades, especially when personal adversity changes the path. Her transition from acting to veterinary medicine illustrates how public figures can expand their impact beyond the spotlight. Her tribute from Haywood Nelson frames her life as a blend of courage, care, and community, a reminder that cultural memory often honors not just the character created on screen but the real life behind it.

Highlights

Her life bridged laughter and healing, a rare blend that outlasts any single screen role.