In Memoriam: Dr. Danielle Spencer (1965–2025)
It is with deep sorrow that we remember Dr. Danielle Spencer, a beloved former child star and respected veterinarian, who passed away on August 11, 2025, after a prolonged battle with cancer. She was 60 years old .
A Rising Star: Dee Thomas and Television Legacy
Born on June 24, 1965, in Trenton, New Jersey and raised in the Bronx, Danielle began acting at the age of seven. She achieved fame as Dee Thomas on the popular 1970s sitcom What’s Happening!! (1976–1979), known for her sharp wit and iconic catchphrase, “Ooooh, I’m gonna tell Mama!” . She reprised the role in the sequel What’s Happening Now!! (1985–1988), further solidifying her place in television history .
Triumph Over Tragedy
During the production of the show’s second season in 1977, Danielle and her stepfather, Tim Pelt, were involved in a catastrophic car accident. The crash claimed his life and left Danielle in a coma for three weeks, requiring months of recovery and rehabilitation . Though she had no memory of the incident, she persevered and eventually rebuilt her life with extraordinary resilience.
From Hollywood to Healing: A New Calling
After the end of her acting career, Danielle pursued higher education with determination. She studied veterinary medicine at the University of California–Davis before earning her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Tuskegee University in 1993 . She dedicated over two decades to animal care, practicing as a veterinarian first in California and later, after relocating in 2014, in Richmond, Virginia . In Richmond, she also shared her expertise through pet-care segments on WTVR-TV, becoming a trusted resource for pet owners in her community .
A Life Marked by Courage and Compassion
Danielle’s life story was shaped by a series of profound health challenges. In 2004, she endured partial paralysis due to spinal stenosis an enduring consequence of the 1977 accident requiring extensive rehabilitation . She bravely faced a breast cancer diagnosis in 2014, undergoing a double mastectomy and chemotherapy . In 2018, she survived emergency brain surgery to treat bleeding hematoma linked to her earlier accident . Through it all, she remained positive, courageous, and inspiring to those around her.
Legacy and Recognition
Danielle’s remarkable journey and impact were honored when she became the first child star inducted into a permanent exhibit at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in 2014 an extraordinary testament to her cultural significance . In 2011, she also immortalized her experiences in her memoir, Through the Fire… Journal of a Child Star .
A Tribute from Family and Friends
Her passing was publicly announced by her brother, jazz trumpeter Jeremy Pelt, who fondly described her as “a friend, an auntie to my three children… a daughter and in many ways, my mother’s best friend. She was a veterinarian… someone who always remained positive…” . Her What’s Happening!! co-star Haywood Nelson honored her as a “brilliant, loving, positive, pragmatic warrior,” adding that she had suffered bravely and deeply impacted everyone she met . In a Facebook statement, her family remembered her for her compassion, courage, and the enduring spark she left behind .
Remembering Danielle
Dr. Danielle Spencer’s life was one of extraordinary transformation from a precocious young actress to a devoted healer and advocate for animal welfare. She faced adversity with grace, humor, and steadfast resilience, leaving an indelible mark across both the entertainment and veterinary worlds. Her legacy continues to shine through the lives she touched on screen, in the clinic, and beyond.
She is survived by her mother, Cheryl, and her brother, Jeremy, who fought alongside her until the end. May she rest in peace, her light enduring in memory and example.
