Danielle Spencer Biography: What’s Happening!! Star, Veterinarian & Net Worth
Danielle Louise Spencer (June 24, 1965 – August 11, 2025) was an American actress and veterinarian.
She achieved fame as child star Dee Thomas on the ABC sitcom What’s Happening!! (1976–1979) and its sequel What’s Happening Now!! (1985–1988), before pursuing a career in veterinary medicine.
Career:
Danielle Spencer was cast as Dee Thomas on What’s Happening!! in 1976. The show was loosely based on the film Cooley High.
After What’s Happening!! concluded in 1979, Spencer and her mother relocated to the Ivory Coast for a period.
Upon her return, she pursued a career in veterinary medicine, a path encouraged by her late stepfather.
She attended the University of California-Davis and earned her doctorate degree in veterinary medicine from Tuskegee University Veterinary School in 1993.
She continued to make occasional acting appearances, including reprising her role as Dee in What’s Happening Now!! (1985-1988) while attending college.
In 1997, she portrayed a veterinarian in the film As Good as It Gets. She also appeared in Peter Rabbit and the Crucifix (2001) and Days of Our Lives (2001).
In 2014, Spencer was inducted as part of the permanent exhibition of the new National Museum of African American History and Culture, recognized as the only former child actor to hold this honor.
She also ventured into fashion design with her “Dani Collection” line.
Danielle Spencer Cause of Death
Danielle Spencer passed away on August 11, 2025, at the age of 60, following a long and courageous battle with cancer.
While the exact type of cancer was not officially confirmed at the time of her death, she had previously been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014 and underwent a double mastectomy.
In 2018, she also underwent emergency brain surgery due to a bleeding hematoma—complications stemming from a traumatic car accident in 1977 that had left her in a coma for three weeks.
Her health challenges were compounded over the years, but she remained resilient and active in both her veterinary career and public advocacy.
Her passing was announced by her longtime friend and What’s Happening!! co-star Haywood Nelson, who described her as a “brilliant, loving, positive, pragmatic warrior” and a “cancer heroine”.
Danielle Spencer Age
Danielle Louise Spencer, born on June 24, 1965, in Trenton, New Jersey, was an African-American Cancer and American national. She was 60 years old at the time of her passing on August 11, 2025.
Danielle Spencer Parents and Siblings
- Mother: Cheryl Pelt, a French teacher
- Stepfather: Tim Pelt, actor and mentor (deceased in 1977 car accident)
- Biological Father: Don Spencer (largely absent)
- Sibling: Jeremy Pelt, jazz musician
- Upbringing: Raised in the Bronx, New York. Began acting at age 7 in a repertory company co-founded by her stepfather
Danielle Spencer Husband
Danielle Spencer was married twice.
- She first married Garry Fields, a marketing manager, publicist, and her manager, in 1999. They divorced in 2013.
- In 2014, she married David L. David, an entrepreneur from New Jersey, who was introduced to her by her What’s Happening!! co-star, Ernest Lee Thomas.
Danielle Spencer Children
Danielle Spencer did not have any children. Despite being married twice—first to Garry Fields (1999–2013) and later to David L. David (from 2014 onward)—there are no credible reports or public records indicating that she had biological or adopted children.
Her personal life was deeply rooted in her relationships with her mother Cheryl Pelt, her late stepfather Tim Pelt, and her extended family, but motherhood was not part of her public narrative.
Danielle Spencer Physical Description
- Height: 5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
- Weight: Approx. 55 kg (121 lbs)
- Hair/Eyes: Black hair and eyes
Career and Background
Began acting around age 8, landing her breakthrough role as Dee Thomas in What’s Happening!! (1976–1979) and reprised it in What’s Happening Now!! (1985–1988).
Survived a severe car crash in 1977 — her stepfather died protecting her, and Spencer was in a coma for three weeks. She later recovered and returned to the show.
After the original series, she and her mother moved to Ivory Coast for a time; she later studied veterinary medicine at UC Davis (and UCLA for undergrad), becoming a veterinarian with a DVM from Tuskegee University in 1993.
She made occasional acting appearances post-veterinary career: as a vet in As Good as It Gets (1997), and in Peter Rabbit and the Crucifix (2001).
Authored a memoir titled Through the Fire: Journal of a Child Star.
Advocated for animal rights, hosted pet-care segments on Richmond TV, and was honored by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture in 2014 — first child actor inducted.
Danielle Spencer movies and TV shows
Here’s a curated list of Danielle Spencer’s most notable movies and TV shows, backed by credible sources:
📺 Danielle Spencer – TV Shows
| Title | Role | Years Active | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| What’s Happening!! | Dee Thomas | 1976–1979 | Breakout role; 65 episodes |
| What’s Happening Now!! | Dee Thomas | 1985–1988 | Sequel series; recurring role |
| The Brady Bunch Variety Hour | Dee Thomas | 1977 | Guest appearance |
| NBC Special Treat | Emma Sheridan | 1978 | One episode appearance |
| Days of Our Lives | Salem Place Vendor | 2001 | Guest role in long-running soap opera |
🎬 Danielle Spencer – Movies
| Title | Role | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| As Good As It Gets | Veterinarian | 1997 | Played a vet in James L. Brooks’s Oscar-winning film |
| Peter Rabbit and the Crucifix | Veterinarian | 2001 | Short film appearance |
Danielle Spencer Net Worth
As of 2025 (prior to her passing), Danielle Spencer’s estimated net worth was approximately $1 million, earned through her work in television, film appearances, and her career as a veterinarian, as well as ventures in writing and public speaking.
Was Danielle Louise Spencer Married?
At the time of her passing, she was married to David L. David (since 2014)
How Old Was Danielle Spencer?
She was 60 years old when she passed away on August 11, 2025.
“Dee” from What’s Happening!!
Her most iconic role was Dee Thomas, the sarcastic younger sister known for her catchphrase, “Ooooh, I’m gonna tell Mama!” She added sharp, deadpan humor to the show, becoming a memorable part of 1970s sitcom culture.
Summary Table
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Biography Intro | Danielle Louise Spencer (1965–2025), American actress & veterinarian |
| Age at Death | 60 |
| Zodiac Sign | Cancer |
| Ethnicity | African American |
| Nationality | American |
| Upbringing / Family | Born Trenton, raised Bronx; mother Cheryl Pelt, stepfather Tim Pelt, brother Jeremy Pelt |
| Marriages | Garry Fields (m.1999–2013); David L. David (m.2014–present) |
| Physical Description | Height: 5 ft 7 in (170 cm), Weight: Approx. 55 kg (121 lbs), Hair/Eyes: Black hair and eyes |
| Career & Background | Child star (What’s Happening!!), veterinarian, memoirist, advocate |
| Net Worth | ~$1 million |
| Married at Death? | Yes — to David L. David |
| Dee (what’s happening) | Dee Thomas, witty tattletale sister with the catchphrase “Ooooh…” |
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.