Remembering Danielle Spencer: Actress, Musician, and Animal Advocate

Danielle Louise Spencer (June 24, 1965 – August 11, 2025) was an American actress, best known for portraying Dee Thomas, the wisecracking little sister on the ABC sitcom *What's Happening!!* from 1976 to 1979.[2][3] She reprised the role in the sequel series *What's Happening Now!!* (1985–1988), appearing in select episodes while pursuing higher education, and earned a bachelor's degree in marine biology from UCLA.[2] Her early career included guest spots on shows like *Soul Train* (1987), *Family Feud* (1979), and *The Brady Bunch Special* (1977), as well as *Christmas at Walt Disney World* (1978).[1] In 1977, Spencer survived a severe car crash that killed her stepfather and manager, Tim Pelt, leaving her in a three-week coma with multiple fractures; decades later, lingering injuries from the accident temporarily confined her to a wheelchair until intensive therapy enabled her to walk with crutches.[1] At the 2006 TV Land Awards, she co-won the "Character Most in Need of a Time-Out" award for Dee Thomas, shared with Alison Arngrim.[2][3] Transitioning from acting, Spencer fulfilled a childhood dream by earning her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Tuskegee University in 1993.[1][2][6] She practiced in Santa Clarita, California, before relocating to Richmond, Virginia, in 2014, where she hosted pet care segments on WTVR-TV morning newscasts. Her veterinary perspective was shaped by her spinal injury experience, emphasizing holistic animal treatment.[2] Later film roles included a veterinarian in *As Good as It Gets* (1997) and *Peter Rabbit and the Crucifix* (2001).[1][2] Spencer shared her life story in the 2011 memoir *Through the Fire… Journal of a Child Star*.[1] Planned honors, like a 2016 Smithsonian induction as the youngest African American female sitcom child star, highlighted her legacy.[1] Tuskegee University mourned her passing in August 2025, noting her community service.[6]