Danielle Spencer, best known for her role as Dee Thomas on the 1970s sitcom ‘What’s Happening!!’, has died at age 60 after a prolonged battle with cancer. The former child star turned veterinarian passed away on August 11, 2025, leaving behind a legacy in both entertainment and veterinary medicine.
Spencer portrayed the sharp-tongued younger sister Dee Thomas on ABC’s ‘What’s Happening!!’ from 1976 to 1979. Her character became iconic for delivering deadpan roasts of her brother Roger ‘Raj’ Thomas and his friends. Spencer was just 10 years old when cast and 14 when the show ended, making her one of television’s most recognizable child stars of the era.
Her death occurred at a hospital in Richmond, Virginia, where she had practiced veterinary medicine for over two decades. Family spokesperson Sandra Jones confirmed Spencer succumbed to cancer after a years-long fight against the disease, compounded by chronic health issues stemming from a traumatic 1977 car accident.
The accident occurred during the show’s production when Spencer was 12. It killed her stepfather, Tim Pelt, and left her in a coma for three weeks with multiple broken bones. This event triggered lifelong spinal and neurological problems that required numerous surgeries and eventually led to periods where she used a wheelchair and had to relearn basic mobility.
After leaving acting, Spencer earned a biology degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and a doctorate in veterinary medicine from Tuskegee University. She established a successful veterinary practice in Richmond, Virginia, demonstrating a remarkable transition from Hollywood to science. Her brother, jazz trumpeter Jeremy Pelt, described her as a ‘brilliant, loving, positive, pragmatic warrior’ in an Instagram tribute.
Spencer faced additional health battles including a 2014 breast cancer diagnosis that resulted in a double mastectomy, and a 2018 emergency surgery for a bleeding hematoma related to her car accident injuries. Despite these challenges, she made occasional returns to entertainment, appearing in the 1985 film ‘The Return of the Living Dead’ and several documentaries about television history.
Her legacy bridges entertainment and science, breaking the stereotype of child actors struggling to transition to adulthood. Fans remember her for Dee’s witty one-liners, while colleagues praised her dedication to animal welfare. Spencer is survived by her mother, Cheryl Pelt, and brother Jeremy.
Memorial arrangements are expected to be private. The family suggests donations to cancer research or animal welfare organizations in lieu of flowers, honoring Spencer’s dual passions.