“What's Happening!!” child TV star Danielle Spencer dies at 60

NBC4 Los Angeles ^ | 8/12/25 | Dennis Broad and Jonathan Lloyd

[DallasBiff]

Child star Danielle Spencer, who portrayed Dee Thomas on the 1970s comedy TV series "What's Happening!!," has died at 60, according to former co-star and friend Haywood Nelson.

In an Instagram post, Nelson said Spencer died Monday in Virginia. No cause of death was included in the post, which featured a photo on Spencer.

Nelson told NBCLA Tuesday that he spoke with Spencer's mother, who confirmed she had died. He described Spencer as a "brilliant person who loved animals" and moved on from acting to become a veterinarian. Nelson, who played Dwayne as Spencer's "What's Happening!!" co-star, told NBCLA he spoke to her about a week ago and marveled at her positivity and optimism.

[dfwgator]

And Dee Dee asked the only black guy in the band, “So, what are you? The half brother?”

---

Tiran Porter is one of the best bassists, ever.

[lowbridge]

Which doobie might you be?

[Kid Shelleen]

Anybody remember the movie “Whats Happening” was based on?

[dfwgator]

Cooley High?

[Kid Shelleen]

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner !!!

[ArcadeQuarters]

Saw an interview with her. She seemed smart and down to earth.

[Borges]

I’m sure the Doobie Brothers had lots of African Americans fans...

[dfwgator]

With Freddie “Boom Boom” Washington.

[scrabblehack]

Is that still illegal? The talking heads in the morning sometimes show smart phone videos of concerts they went to.

[gawatchman]

That was Rerun.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Larry Matthews.

[Dr. Sivana]

It takes three (33-39 episodes), four (25 episodes), or five (22 episodes) seasons to reach television’s important 100 episode list for strip sales.

Exceptions were made for Star Trek (~80 episodes) and "The Honeymooners" (39 Episodes). They were shown daily, at least in the NYC market.

[WhiteHatBobby0701]

Star Trek was made in an era before Prime Time Access, where 80 could still be worth it as a weekly series. The move from weekly to daily syndication strips came with technology. Stations “bicycled” tapes in the early era of PTAH syndication.

[Dr. Sivana]

Star Trek, and even The Honeymooners, were shown five days a week. Heck, even single season flops (My Mother the Car) made it to syndication in the late ‘60s / early ‘70s.

[x]

Too soon.

Fred “Rerun” Berry didn’t even make it that far.

Neither did Shirley Hemphill.

Raj and Dwayne are still around, though.

[ifinnegan]

Your comment.

[fidelis]

Remember her character was always eating spoonful's of peanut butter? That's what did it.

May she rest in peace.

[WhiteHatBobby0701]

That was in an era of bicycling tapes.