Danielle Spencer, the beloved actress who portrayed Dee Thomas on the 1970s sitcom What’s Happening!!, has passed away at the age of 60. Her death was confirmed by her co-star Haywood Nelson, who described her as a “brilliant, loving, positive, pragmatic warrior.”
Spencer’s portrayal of Dee, the sharp-tongued younger sister of Raj Thomas, left an indelible mark on American television. The show, which aired from 1976 to 1979, was one of the first to center the experiences of Black teenagers, and Spencer’s character became known for her catchphrase, “Ooh, I’m gonna tell Mama!”
Born on June 24, 1965, in Trenton, New Jersey, Spencer began her acting career at a young age. In 1977, during the production of the show’s second season, she was involved in a severe car accident that left her in a coma for three weeks and caused significant physical injuries. Despite these challenges, she returned to acting and later pursued a career in veterinary medicine, earning her doctorate from Tuskegee University in 1993.
Throughout her life, Spencer faced numerous health challenges, including a breast cancer diagnosis in 2014 and emergency brain surgery in 2018. Despite these setbacks, she remained a positive and inspiring figure to those around her.
Spencer is survived by her mother, Cheryl Pelt, and her brother, jazz musician Jeremy Pelt. Her family has requested privacy during this difficult time.
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