"Star Danielle Spencer Passes Away at the Age of 60: What's the Latest"
Danielle Spencer, the actress who played Dee Thomas on the 1970s sitcom "What's Happening!!", has tragically passed away at the age of 60.
Spencer's portrayal of Dee, the quick-witted, sassy younger sister of Roger "Raj" Thomas, was a fan favourite. Known for her deadpan roasts and catchphrase "Ooh, I'm gonna tell mama," Dee added a unique flavour to the show's humour and family dynamics.
"What's Happening!!", created by Eric Monte, was a groundbreaking sitcom that focused on the lives of three Black teenagers growing up in the Watts neighbourhood of Los Angeles. The show, which was inspired by the movie "Cooley High", ran on ABC from 1976 to 1979[1][3][5].
After originally starring in all 65 episodes of "What's Happening!!", Spencer reprised her role in the sequel, "What's Happening Now!!", which followed the characters as adults[3][4].
Outside her acting career, Spencer faced significant health challenges. In 1977, she was involved in a major car accident on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, California, which left her in a coma for three weeks and claimed the life of her stepfather, Tim Pelt[2]. Despite these setbacks, she recovered and continued acting before eventually pursuing a career as a veterinarian. She earned her doctorate in veterinary medicine in 1993 and dedicated her life to animal care[4][5].
In 2014, Spencer was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy[6]. She continued to fight her illness for several years before passing away at a hospital in Richmond, Virginia[7].
Spencer is survived by her brother, musician Jeremy Pelt, and her mother, Cheryl Pelt[8]. Haywood Nelson, who played Dwayne on the show, paid tribute to Spencer, calling her "Dr. Dee, our brilliant, loving, positive, pragmatic warrior."
Spencer's legacy as a courageous and beloved figure, both on-screen and off, will undoubtedly live on.
[1] - Wikipedia: What's Happening!! [2] - Jet Magazine: Danielle Spencer Interview [3] - IMDb: Danielle Spencer [4] - BlackDoctor.org: Danielle Spencer [5] - UCLA Newsroom: Danielle Spencer [6] - Jet Magazine: Danielle Spencer's Cancer Battle [7] - TMZ: Danielle Spencer Passes Away [8] - Variety: Danielle Spencer Obituary
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