Danielle Spencer from «What's Happening!!» has passed away — Haywood Nelson, August 12, 2025
12 august 2025 в 20:13
Daniel Spencer, former child star from the 1970s sitcom «What's Happening!!», passed away, as announced by her colleague Haywood Nelson on August 12, 2025. Spencer was 60 years old. The late actress, who had become a veterinarian, battled cancer towards the end of her life, and fans are questioning the cause of her death, as Spencer was only 60 years old.
The announcement of Spencer’s death was posted on Nelson’s unverified Instagram account. It stated, in part: «We have lost a daughter, sister, family member, 'What's Happening' cast member, veterinarian, animal rights advocate, and healer, and a cancer warrior. Our heroine. Danielle is loved. She will be missed in this form and forever embraced».
Read on to learn about Spencer’s life, career, and death.
Spencer was a child actress known for her role as Dee in «What's Happening!!». The comedy series was loosely based on the 1975 film «Cooley High». The successful sitcom aired on ABC for three seasons from 1976 to 1979 and had a sequel called «What's Happening Now!!» that lasted another three years.
Known for her character’s catchphrase «Ooo, I’m gonna tell Mama!», Spencer returned for the sequel, which aired from 1985 to 1988.
According to Nelson, Spencer passed away after battling cancer. In his Instagram statement, the actor wrote: «Dr. Dee, our brilliant, loving, positive, pragmatic warrior, has finally found release from the embrace of this world and body. We celebrate Danielle Spencer and her contributions, as we sadly announce her passing and transition after a long battle with cancer».
Additionally, several sources reported that Spencer passed away in a hospital due to complications from cancer.
Spencer was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014, and later underwent a double mastectomy, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Four years later, the late actress underwent emergency surgery to stop bleeding in her brain.
In 2018, a GoFundMe page was created to help Spencer pay her medical bills. The page stated that a car accident in 1976 led to constant headaches and a subsequent hematoma.
«Forty-two years after her serious car accident in 1976, which led to the premature death of her stepfather, actor Tim Pelt, and left her in a coma for three weeks with a broken leg, arm, and pelvis, Dr. Danielle Spencer began experiencing massive debilitating headaches», - the GoFundMe page stated. «After numerous doctor visits for headache medications, the headaches persisted until last week when she lost consciousness. These headaches led to her unconscious state and nearly succumbing to her illness. Thanks to the quick action of experienced doctors, emergency brain surgery was performed to remove the bleeding caused by the car accident 42 years ago»
The announcement of Spencer’s death was posted on Nelson’s unverified Instagram account. It stated, in part: «We have lost a daughter, sister, family member, 'What's Happening' cast member, veterinarian, animal rights advocate, and healer, and a cancer warrior. Our heroine. Danielle is loved. She will be missed in this form and forever embraced».
Read on to learn about Spencer’s life, career, and death.
Spencer was a child actress known for her role as Dee in «What's Happening!!». The comedy series was loosely based on the 1975 film «Cooley High». The successful sitcom aired on ABC for three seasons from 1976 to 1979 and had a sequel called «What's Happening Now!!» that lasted another three years.
Known for her character’s catchphrase «Ooo, I’m gonna tell Mama!», Spencer returned for the sequel, which aired from 1985 to 1988.
According to Nelson, Spencer passed away after battling cancer. In his Instagram statement, the actor wrote: «Dr. Dee, our brilliant, loving, positive, pragmatic warrior, has finally found release from the embrace of this world and body. We celebrate Danielle Spencer and her contributions, as we sadly announce her passing and transition after a long battle with cancer».
Additionally, several sources reported that Spencer passed away in a hospital due to complications from cancer.
Spencer was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014, and later underwent a double mastectomy, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Four years later, the late actress underwent emergency surgery to stop bleeding in her brain.
In 2018, a GoFundMe page was created to help Spencer pay her medical bills. The page stated that a car accident in 1976 led to constant headaches and a subsequent hematoma.
«Forty-two years after her serious car accident in 1976, which led to the premature death of her stepfather, actor Tim Pelt, and left her in a coma for three weeks with a broken leg, arm, and pelvis, Dr. Danielle Spencer began experiencing massive debilitating headaches», - the GoFundMe page stated. «After numerous doctor visits for headache medications, the headaches persisted until last week when she lost consciousness. These headaches led to her unconscious state and nearly succumbing to her illness. Thanks to the quick action of experienced doctors, emergency brain surgery was performed to remove the bleeding caused by the car accident 42 years ago»
© Zhinobaeva Margarita
