Actress Danielle Spencer, famed for her role as Dee on 'What's Happening!!,' sadly passes away at 60 years old.
In a heartbreaking turn of events, Danielle Spencer, best known for her role as Dee Thomas on the iconic 1970s sitcom 'What's Happening!!', has passed away at the age of 60.
Spencer began her acting career at the tender age of 9, landing her first credited role in the show. Her character, Dee, was renowned for her deadpan roasts of big brother Roger "Raj" Thomas and his friends Dwayne Nelson and Freddie "Rerun" Stubbs.
The show, set in the Los Angeles neighbourhood of Watts, was based on the movie 'Cooley High' and ran on ABC from 1976 to 1979. A mid-1980s reboot of the show, titled 'What's Happening Now!!', also featured Spencer.
Early in the production of the show's first season, Spencer was involved in a car accident on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, California, that left her in a coma for three weeks and tragically took the life of her stepfather, Tim Pelt. The accident left Spencer with symptoms that required her to use a wheelchair and relearn how to walk.
Despite the adversity, Spencer chose a different path later in life. She attended the University of California, Davis, and UCLA, and went on to earn her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Tuskegee University in 1993.
Spencer became a veterinarian and advocate for animals, practicing initially in Santa Clarita, California, and later in Richmond, Virginia. In addition to her veterinary career, she inspired others by launching a candle line, creating a veterinarian doll in her likeness, and being inducted into the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture as the youngest African American female child star on a sitcom.
In 2014, Spencer was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a preventive double mastectomy at VCU Massey Cancer Center. Despite her battle with the disease, she remained courageous and compassionate, inspiring many with her resilience and advocacy.
Spencer's death was mourned by family, colleagues, and fans, who highlighted her legacy of courage, compassion, and advocacy. Haywood Nelson, who played Dwayne on the show, paid tribute to Spencer as "Dr. Dee, our brilliant, loving, positive, pragmatic warrior."
In an interview with Jet magazine in 2014, Spencer shared that she had never seen any young Black girl in the spotlight before and had no reference point on how to deal with the opportunity. Despite this, she rose to the challenge and left an indelible mark on the world of entertainment and animal care.
Spencer's later years saw her make appearances in films such as "As Good as it Gets" where she played a veterinarian. Spencer passed away on Monday at a hospital in Richmond, Virginia, after a years-long battle with cancer.
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