A Trailblazer in Television History

Airing on ABC from 1976 to 1979, “What’s Happening!!” was one of the first American TV series centered on Black teenagers, inspired by Eric Monte’s 1975 film Cooley High. At a time when shows like “Sanford and Son” and “Good Times” were defining Black representation on television, “What’s Happening!!” stood out for its focus on teenage life in Los Angeles.

The series followed Roger “Raj” Thomas (Ernest Thomas), Freddie “Rerun” Stubbs (Fred Berry), and Dwayne Nelson (Haywood Nelson) as they navigated adolescence. Danielle Spencer’s character, Dee—Raj’s sharp-tongued younger sister—quickly became a fan favorite. She appeared in 65 episodes of the original series and returned for 16 episodes in the 1980s reboot, “What’s Happening Now!!”

Her most famous catchphrase, “Ooh, I’m telling Mama!”, became a cultural staple and was repeated to her by fans for decades.

From Bronx Roots to Television Fame

Born Danielle Louise Spencer on June 24, 1965, in the Bronx, New York, she was the daughter of James Spencer, a civil servant, and Cheryl (Smith) Spencer, a schoolteacher. Danielle began acting around the age of 8, developing a passion for performance early.

She admitted she had no media role models for her character, telling Jet Magazine in 2014, “I had never seen any young Black girl in that type of spotlight… so I used my own family as a reference.”

Spencer revealed that she initially did not land the role after her audition but was called to Los Angeles a month later—a major cultural shift from her Bronx upbringing.

A Life Beyond Acting — A Veterinarian’s Calling

After “What’s Happening Now!!” ended in 1988, Spencer pursued her lifelong passion for animals. She earned a marine biology degree from UCLA and a doctorate in veterinary medicine from Tuskegee University in 1993.

She worked for decades as a veterinarian, blending her love for animals with her public platform. In 1997, she briefly returned to acting, playing a veterinarian in the Oscar-winning film “As Good as It Gets.”

Tragedy, Resilience, and Health Battles

In the second season of “What’s Happening!!,” Spencer and her stepfather, Tim Pelt, were involved in a devastating car accident. Pelt died, and Spencer was in a coma for three weeks with multiple fractures. She recovered and returned for the show’s final season, crediting her stepfather and mother for guiding her career choices.

Her later years were marked by significant health challenges. In 2004, she developed spinal stenosis linked to her accident injuries, which left her near paralysis. In 2014, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy. She also endured emergency brain surgery in 2018.

Through it all, she leaned on her family for strength, telling the Oprah Winfrey Network in 2016 that they helped her overcome moments of despair.

Lasting Legacy and Cultural Impact

In 2016, Danielle Spencer was inducted into the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture—an honor she described as surreal: “That’s something people can look at for years to come, long after I’m gone.”

She is survived by her mother, Cheryl Pelt, and her brother, jazz musician Jeremy Pelt.

Danielle Spencer leaves behind a dual legacy—as a trailblazing Black television star of the 1970s and as a dedicated veterinarian whose compassion extended beyond the screen. Her sharp wit, resilience, and cultural impact ensure her place in both African American entertainment history and the hearts of fans worldwide.