Latest news with #What'sHappening!!'
Epoch Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Epoch Times
Danielle Spencer, Who Played Little Sister Dee on ‘What's Happening!!,' Dies at 60
LOS ANGELES—Danielle Spencer, who played the wisecracking and tattling little sister Dee Thomas on the 1970s sitcom 'What's Happening!!' has died at 60. Spencer, who became a veterinarian later in life, died Monday at a hospital in Richmond, Virginia, after a years-long battle with cancer, family spokesperson Sandra Jones said.
Arab Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Arab Times
Danielle Spencer, TV's Dee on 'What's Happening!!,' dies at 60
LOS ANGELES, Aug 13, (AP): Danielle Spencer, who played the wisecracking and tattling little sister Dee Thomas on the 1970s sitcom "What's Happening!!' has died at 60. Spencer, who became a veterinarian later in life, died Monday at a hospital in Richmond, Virginia, after a years-long battle with cancer, family spokesperson Sandra Jones said. As Dee, Spencer was the smarter, more serious younger sister who offered a steady stream of deadpan roasts of big brother Roger "Raj' Thomas and his friends Dwayne Nelson and Freddie "Rerun' Stubbs. "Ooh, I'm gonna tell mama,' would become Dee's catchphrase. The show, set in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Watts and among the first on television to focus on the lives of Black teenagers, was based on the movie "Cooley High' and ran on ABC from 1976 to 1979. It had a long legacy thanks to its memorable characters, including the geeky Raj, the catchphrase-spouting Dwayne, the red-bereted dancing phenom Rerun, and Dee with her eyerolls and icy stare. Early in the production of the show's first season, Spencer, then 12, was in a major car accident on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, California, that left her in a coma for three weeks and killed her stepfather, Tim Pelt. She would have spinal and neurological problems that would require multiple surgeries in the years afterward. Born in Trenton, New Jersey, and raised in New York, Spencer began acting when she was about 9. "What's Happening!!' would be her first credited role. "Imagine being plucked from obscurity to star in a TV show,' she told Jet magazine in 2014. "I had never seen any young Black girl in that type of spotlight, so I didn't have a reference point in the media as to how to deal with this opportunity. I was from the Bronx.' Haywood Nelson, who played Dwayne on the show, paid tribute Tuesday to "Dr. Dee, our brilliant, loving, positive, pragmatic warrior.' "We have lost a daughter, sister, family member, 'What's Happening' cast member, veterinarian, animal rights proponent, healer, and cancer heroine. Our Shero,' Nelson said on Instagram. "Danielle is loved.' Spencer also appeared on a mid-1980s reboot of the show, "What's Happening Now!!,' which ran for three seasons. In 2018, she had emergency surgery for a bleeding hematoma, which stemmed from that 1977 car crash. In the immediate aftermath, a family spokesperson said she could only speak slightly and had to use crutches to walk. She had been suffering symptoms since at least 2004, when she had to use a wheelchair and relearn how to walk. In 2014, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a double mastectomy. She went on to become a veterinarian and advocate for animals. She attended the University of California, Davis, and UCLA, and got a doctorate in veterinary medicine from Tuskegee University in 1993. Spencer continued to dabble in acting in her later years, including an appearance as a veterinarian in the 1997 Jack Nicholson film "As Good as it Gets.' She is survived by her brother, musician Jeremy Pelt, and her mother, Cheryl Pelt.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Danielle Spencer from ‘What's Happening!!' passes away at 60
Trigger warning: This article contains mention of an individual's death. Former child star Danielle Spencer , best known for her memorable role as the quick-witted Dee Thomas in the 1970s sitcom 'What's Happening!!', has passed away at the age of 60. Her legacy as a talented actress and her lasting impact on television and film are being remembered by fans and colleagues. Spencer's notable performances in projects like 'What's Happening Now!!' and 'As Good as it Gets' showcased her unique acting style and cemented her place in pop culture history. Danielle Spencer passes away at the age of 60 The former TV star passed on at the age of 60 in Richmond, Virginia, as confirmed by her co-star and friend Haywood Nelson, as per a report by The Hollywood Reporter. While talking about his co-star, Nelson shared that, 'She suffered for a very long time but did it with a great deal of courage'. The actress was diagnosed earlier with breast cancer and had undergone a double mastectomy in 2014. Afterwards, she had undergone another surgery in 2018 to help relieve bleeding in her brain. The star had undergone a lot of health issues in her life. Almost a decade after an accident that had killed her stepfather, she even ended up developing a spinal condition that had left dependent on a wheelchair for quite some time. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Secret Lives of the Romanovs — the Last Rulers of Imperial Russia! Learn More Undo All about the late Danielle Spencer The late Danielle Spencer was a prolific actor who had been a part of the entertainment industry for a short amount of time; however, she had still managed to leave her mark. While she started her journey in the industry at the mere age of 7, her best known role came much later in life. She was best known for her role in the hit show, 'What's Happening!!', where she took on the role of Dee, and became known for her popular catchphrase 'Ooooh, I'm gonna tell Mama!' After getting into an auto accident during the filming of the second season of the show, she went on to become a veterinarian in 1993, though she still ended up appearing in programs.
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First Post
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- First Post
Danielle Spencer, who played little sister Dee on ‘What's Happening!!,' dies at 60
Spencer, who became a veterinarian later in life, died Monday at a hospital in Richmond, Virginia, after a yearslong battle with cancer, family spokesperson Sandra Jones said. Danielle Spencer, who played the wisecracking and tattling little sister Dee Thomas on the 1970s sitcom 'What's Happening!!' has died at 60. Spencer, who became a veterinarian later in life, died Monday at a hospital in Richmond, Virginia, after a yearslong battle with cancer, family spokesperson Sandra Jones said. As Dee, Spencer was the smarter, more serious younger sister who offered a steady stream of deadpan roasts of big brother Roger 'Raj' Thomas and his friends Dwayne Nelson and Freddie 'Rerun' Stubbs. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Ooh, I'm gonna tell mama,' would become Dee's catchphrase. The show, set in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Watts and among the first on television to focus on the lives of Black teenagers, was based on the movie 'Cooley High' and ran on ABC from 1976 to 1979. It had a long legacy thanks to its memorable characters, including the geeky Raj, the catchphrase-spouting Dwayne, the red-bereted dancing phenom Rerun, and Dee with her eyerolls and icy stare. Early in the production of the show's first season, Spencer, then 12, was in a major car accident on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, California, that left her in a coma for three weeks and killed her stepfather, Tim Pelt. She would have spinal and neurological problems that would require multiple surgeries in the years afterward. Born in Trenton, New Jersey, and raised in New York, Spencer began acting when she was about 9. 'What's Happening!!' would be her first credited role. 'Imagine being plucked from obscurity to star in a TV show,' she told Jet magazine in 2014. 'I had never seen any young Black girl in that type of spotlight, so I didn't have a reference point in the media as to how to deal with this opportunity. I was from the Bronx.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Haywood Nelson, who played Dwayne on the show, paid tribute Tuesday to 'Dr. Dee, our brilliant, loving, positive, pragmatic warrior.' 'We have lost a daughter, sister, family member, 'What's Happening' cast member, veterinarian animal rights proponent and healer, and cancer heroine. Our Shero,' Nelson said on Instagram. 'Danielle is loved.' Spencer also appeared on a mid-1980s reboot of the show, 'What's Happening Now!!,' which ran for three seasons. In 2018, she had emergency surgery for a bleeding hematoma, which stemmed from that 1977 car crash. In the immediate aftermath, a family spokesperson said she could only speak slightly and had to use crutches to walk. She had been suffering symptoms from at least 2004, when she had to use a wheelchair and relearn how to walk. In 2014, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a double mastectomy. She went on to become a veterinarian and advocate for animals. She attended the University of California, Davis, and UCLA, and got a doctorate in veterinary medicine from Tuskegee University in 1993. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Spencer continued to dabble in acting in her later years, including an appearance as a veterinarian in the 1997 Jack Nicholson film 'As Good as it Gets.' She is survived by her brother, musician Jeremy Pelt, and her mother, Cheryl Pelt.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Danielle Spencer, ‘What's Happening!!' star, dies at 60
Danielle Spencer, who played the wisecracking and tattling little sister Dee Thomas on the 1970s sitcom 'What's Happening!!' has died at 60. Ms. Spencer, who became a veterinarian later in life, died Monday (August 11, 2025) at a hospital in Richmond, Virginia, after a yearslong battle with cancer, family spokesperson Sandra Jones said. As Dee, Spencer was the smarter, more serious younger sister who offered a steady stream of deadpan roasts of big brother Roger 'Raj' Thomas and his friends Dwayne Nelson and Freddie 'Rerun' Stubbs. 'Ooh, I'm gonna tell mama,' would become Dee's catchphrase. The show, set in the Los Angeles neighbourhood of Watts and among the first on television to focus on the lives of Black teenagers, was based on the movie 'Cooley High' and ran on ABC from 1976 to 1979. It had a long legacy thanks to its memorable characters, including the geeky Raj, the catchphrase-spouting Dwayne, the red-bereted dancing phenom Rerun, and Dee with her eyerolls and icy stare. Early in the production of the show's first season, Spencer, then 12, was in a major car accident on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, California, that left her in a coma for three weeks and killed her stepfather, Tim Pelt. She would have spinal and neurological problems that would require multiple surgeries in the years afterward. Born in Trenton, New Jersey, and raised in New York, Spencer began acting when she was about 9. 'What's Happening!!' would be her first credited role. 'Imagine being plucked from obscurity to star in a TV show,' she told Jet magazine in 2014. 'I had never seen any young Black girl in that type of spotlight, so I didn't have a reference point in the media as to how to deal with this opportunity. I was from the Bronx.' Haywood Nelson, who played Dwayne on the show, paid tribute Tuesday to 'Dr. Dee, our brilliant, loving, positive, pragmatic warrior.' 'We have lost a daughter, sister, family member, 'What's Happening' cast member, veterinarian animal rights proponent and healer, and cancer heroine. Our Shero,' Nelson said on Instagram. 'Danielle is loved.' Spencer also appeared on a mid-1980s reboot of the show, 'What's Happening Now!!,' which ran for three seasons. In 2018, she had emergency surgery for a bleeding hematoma, which stemmed from that 1977 car crash. In the immediate aftermath, a family spokesperson said she could only speak slightly and had to use crutches to walk. She had been suffering symptoms from at least 2004, when she had to use a wheelchair and relearn how to walk. In 2014, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a double mastectomy. She went on to become a veterinarian and advocate for animals. She attended the University of California, Davis, and UCLA, and got a doctorate in veterinary medicine from Tuskegee University in 1993. Spencer continued to dabble in acting in her later years, including an appearance as a veterinarian in the 1997 Jack Nicholson film 'As Good as it Gets.' She is survived by her brother, musician Jeremy Pelt, and her mother, Cheryl Pelt.
