Danielle Spencer, best known for playing Dee Thomas, the sharp-tongued little sister on the hit 1970s sitcom What’s Happening!!, has died at the age of 60. Her family confirmed she passed away Monday in a Richmond, Virginia hospital after a prolonged fight with cancer.
Spencer’s role as Dee became iconic for her deadpan humor, icy stares, and the unforgettable catchphrase, “Ooooh, I’m gonna tell Mama!” The series, set in Los Angeles’ Watts neighborhood, broke ground as one of the first to center on Black teenagers’ lives.
Her journey was marked by resilience. At just 12 years old, during the show’s first season, Spencer survived a devastating car accident that killed her stepfather and left her in a coma for three weeks. She endured lasting spinal and neurological issues, undergoing multiple surgeries over the years. In 2014, she faced a breast cancer diagnosis and had a double mastectomy, later undergoing emergency brain surgery in 2018.
After her acting career, Spencer followed her passion for animals, earning a veterinary degree from Tuskegee University in 1993. She was celebrated not only as a performer but also as a dedicated animal rights advocate.
Tributes poured in from co-stars and friends. Haywood Nelson, who played Dwayne, called her a “brilliant, loving, positive, pragmatic warrior” and “our Shero.” Actress Holly Robinson Peete remembered their teenage friendship as “beautiful” and said she was “gutted” by her loss.
Spencer’s life stood as a testament to perseverance, humor, and compassion — both on screen and in the exam room caring for animals. Fans and colleagues alike remember her as a talent gone too soon, but whose impact will never fade.
