Danielle Spencer — forever remembered as wisecracking little sister “Dee Thomas” on ABC’s 1970s sitcom What’s Happening!! — has passed away at 60. According to TMZ, she died Monday night in a Richmond, Virginia hospital from complications related to cancer, with her mother, Cheryl, and her brother, jazz musician Jeremy Pelt, at her side.
TMZ

Her longtime friend and former co-star, Haywood Nelson (who played “Dwayne”), told TMZ he received the heartbreaking call while he was in Dallas. He said the two had spoken by phone just two weeks earlier and that she sounded upbeat. Nelson also shared a tribute on Instagram, reflecting that her fight had taken a heavy toll and that she had “finally found her release from the clutches of this world and a body.”

Spencer became a household name as part of the original What’s Happening!! cast, which ran from 1976 to 1979. She later reprised her beloved role in the ’80s sequel What’s Happening Now!! before stepping away from Hollywood in the 1990s to pursue a new calling as a veterinarian — a career path that earned her the affectionate nickname “Dr. Dee” among fans and friends.

Nelson added that Spencer had previously been involved in a car accident and was using a wheelchair in the period leading up to her passing. Despite the setbacks, he emphasized that he always saw her as a little sister; their final conversation, he said, captured her enduring positivity even while she faced mounting health challenges.

As news of her death spreads, tributes are highlighting the breadth of Spencer’s journey — from child star to healer — and the joy she brought to generations who grew up with What’s Happening!!. She is mourned by loved ones and by viewers who felt like they knew “Dee” personally. Danielle Spencer was 60. May this queen rest in eternal peace, after a job well done here on earth.

The post R.I.P. “What’s Happening” Legend Danielle Spencer (“Dee”) Passes Away, Details 🕊 appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

All of us, Old Schoolers, remember how “Dee” brought us joy and laughter on “What’s Happening,” but actress, Danielle Spencer-David’s, real life brought her tremendous pain, struggles, and thankfully…strength. However, before her strength kicked in, Danielle almost committed suicide in more recent years and she painfully explained why.

As we’ve previously reported, Danielle has been through a LOT in her 56 years of life. She’s survived a deadly car accident in 1977 (at the height of her “What’s Happening” career) that killed the man who introduced her to acting- her stepfather, Tim Pelt. He died while shielding Danielle as a truck rammed into them on a highway; The accident left Danielle in a 6-month coma, partially paralyzed for a while, permanently stricken with spinal stenosis and forever dependent on crutches to walk. But decades later, there was a totally different pain that struck Danielle’s world…one that made her want to take her own life.

Why Danielle Spencer Contemplated Suicide

In an interview on “Oprah’s Where Are They Now,” Danielle became very emotional when recalling how in 2014, at age 49, she seriously contemplated suicide after getting a double mastectomy (both breasts removed) to eliminate breast cancer from her body and attempt to prevent it from further spreading. See what else Danielle tearfully explained in the video below…

Danielle Faced Another Major Health Issues In 2018

Danielle Spencer, who played the tattletale little sister Dee Thomas on the 1970s TV series “What’s Happening!!,” is home in Virginia recuperating from emergency brain surgery after a series of health setbacks. https://t.co/GWnWk1h5e3

— The Associated Press (@AP) October 12, 2018

By 2018, Danielle experienced another traumatic health setback. She had to undergo emergency brain surgery, to remove a bleeding hematoma from her brain. According to her friends, Danielle was rushed to the hospital on the 42nd anniversary of her childhood car accident. Danielle’s doctors believe the bleeding hematoma was another side effect from the same car accident Danielle had endured as a child.

At the time of her surgery, Danielle’s friends started a GoFundMe page to raise funds for Danielle’s recovery.

Ever since 2018, Danielle Spencer has seemingly stayed out of the public eye and her Instagram page has been inactive. Her husband, David L. David, has presumably been taking good care of her. We sincerely hope Danielle’s thriving and doing well these days. Wishing that queen all the best…she is a TRUE warrior. 🙏🏾

The post “What’s Happening’s” Danielle Spencer (“Dee”) Tearfully Disclosed Why She Was Suicidal appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

All of us, Old Schoolers, remember how “Dee” brought us joy and laughter on “What’s Happening,” but actress, Danielle Spencer-David’s, real life brought her tremendous pain, struggles, and thankfully…strength. However, before her strength kicked in, Danielle almost committed suicide in more recent years and she painfully explained why.

As we’ve previously reported, Danielle has been through a LOT in her 55 years of life. She’s survived a deadly car accident in 1977 (at the height of her “What’s Happening” career) that killed the man who introduced her to acting- her stepfather, Tim Pelt. He died while shielding Danielle as a truck rammed into them on a highway; The accident left Danielle in a 6-month coma, partially paralyzed for a while, permanently stricken with spinal stenosis and forever dependent on crutches to walk. But decades later, there was a totally different pain that struck Danielle’s world…one that made her want to take her own life.

Why Danielle Spencer Contemplated Suicide

In an interview on “Oprah’s Where Are They Now,” Danielle became very emotional when recalling how in 2014, at age 49, she seriously contemplated suicide after getting a double mastectomy (both breasts removed) to eliminate breast cancer from her body and attempt to prevent it from further spreading. See what else Danielle tearfully explained in the video below…

Danielle Faced Another Major Health Issues In 2018

Danielle Spencer, who played the tattletale little sister Dee Thomas on the 1970s TV series “What’s Happening!!,” is home in Virginia recuperating from emergency brain surgery after a series of health setbacks. https://t.co/GWnWk1h5e3

— The Associated Press (@AP) October 12, 2018

By 2018, Danielle experienced another traumatic health setback. She had to undergo emergency brain surgery, to remove a bleeding hematoma from her brain. According to her friends, Danielle was rushed to the hospital on the 42nd anniversary of her childhood car accident. Danielle’s doctors believe the bleeding hematoma was another side effect from the same car accident Danielle had endured as a child.

At the time of her surgery, Danielle’s friends started a GoFundMe page to raise funds for Danielle’s recovery.

Ever since 2018, Danielle Spencer has stayed out of the public eye and her Instagram page has been inactive. Her husband, David L. David, has presumably been taking good care of her. We sincerely hope Danielle’s thriving and doing well these days. Wishing that queen all the best…she is a TRUE warrior. 🙏🏾

The post ‘What’s Happening’s’ Danielle Spencer (“Dee”) Tearfully Detailed Why She Was Suicidal appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

Dr. Danielle Spencer, also known as Dee from the hit show “What’s Happening”, is dealing with serious medical conditions and needs our help. Please click on the GoFundMe link below and donate whatever you can. Every penny counts! We thank you in advance.https://t.co/J4bhHvrhbu pic.twitter.com/rc4bEpn2LZ

— Mike Chisholm (@MykChiz) September 29, 2018

Remember “Dee” from “What’s Happening!!?” She was the sarcastic, but adorable lil’ sister of the main character, “Raj.”

“Dee Thomas” became a household name and her character was most notably known for her wisecracking banter. A household favorite, Dr. Danielle was recognized as the first Black female child to regularly star in a television series as exhibited in the National Museum of African American history and culture in Washington, D.C.

In real life, the actress who played “Dee,” is Danielle Spencer-David, who later became a veterinarian in Richmond, Virginia. Known for being a child actor, when the series ended, Spencer-David attended University of California-Davis to pursue a degree in veterinary medicine. While she has had much success in her career,  sadly, her life has been filled with challenges.

After enduring an accident that occurred over 42 years ago, Spencer-David is still fighting for her life and now she needs all of our help.

‘What’s Happening’ Star Is Fighting For Her Life:

Friends and family members of Danielle are currently asking for the public’s help in any way possible. According to her Go Fund Me page, Spencer-David had been experiencing massive debilitating headaches. The headaches were so severe that Spencer-David was left unconscious. Her family and friends became concerned, as she became unresponsive.

To save her life, Danielle had to undergo brain surgery to remove a bleeding hematoma that formed due to the debilitating car accident four decades ago.

Thankfully, Dr. Danielle is recovering. However, she has a long road ahead. Not only will she have to endure physical rehabilitation, her recovery is unknown. She has had other health challenges, such as cancer and spinal cord injury. Unfortunately, she won’t be able to practice medicine and she will need funds to help with treatment and medication.

Dr. Danielle had no idea that a car accident that occurred 42 years ago, would still be affecting her in the present day.

Danielle Spencer-David Endured A Major Car Accident Resulting In The Untimely Death Of Her Stepfather:

While the actress was playing the iconic character of “Dee,” she endured real physical pain from a horrific car accident that killed her step-father, actor Tim Pelt. As a result of the accident, Spencer-David was in a coma for three weeks and left with a broken pelvis, leg, and arm.

“I was gone from the show for about six months,” said Danielle Spencer, speaking to EURweb . “They stopped taping the show for about a month and I just healed pretty quickly. Basically I had the summer to heal and I came back for the second season.”

Because of the accident, Danielle Spencer-David has dealt with a life of pain and had to undergo surgery in 2003. Thinking that she was okay, Danielle began to feel tingling, which turned to numbness up and down both her legs. To make matters worse, she eventually experienced a stabbing pain in her back. In order to walk again, Spencer-David had to have a disc removed from her back.

Then, in 2014 Danielle discovered she had breast cancer after she administered a self breast exam. After having a biopsy that confirmed she had cancer, Spencer-David opted for a preventative double mastectomy. Because of her disability from the car accident, it made the process of having surgery and chemo slower. Thankfully, she is now cancer free.

Like her self-proclaimed memoir, Spencer-David has been Through the Fire. Let’s hope she continues to push through the fire…possibly bruised, but not broken. Sending loving light and positive energy to “Dee” at this time.

ILOSM fam,’ please be sure to visit her GoFundMe page HERE, if you can.

The post Sad: Dee Of ‘What’s Happening’ Had Dangerous Emergency Surgery, Family Seeks Help appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

[kkgallery kid=”2918″ title=”Dee From “What’sHappening” Tearfully Tells What Made Her Almost Kill Herself”]

Source1, Source2, Source3

The post Oh No, “Dee” TEARFULLY Reveals What Made Her Recently Want To Kill Herself appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

Well nowadays she isn’t tattle-telling on folks, nor is she a little kid anymore. As many of you may have heard, Danielle announced that she was diagnosed with breast cancer in October of last year (2014), when she was 49 years old (she just turned 50 on June 24th), and she’s been fighting a tough fight ever since.

We’re not sure about the status of her cancer, but it sure does look like she is not letting it get the best of her by far. Check out how “Dee” looks now and wait ’til you see what else she’s been through…

The post “Dee” Is Kicking Her Cancer In The U-Know-What! Have U Seen Her Lately? appeared first on I Love Old School Music.