Sachin Shankar Yadav 
Born in Trenton, New Jersey, on June 24, 1965, Danielle Spencer grew up in New York City with her stepfather, actor Tim Pelt, and mother, Cheryl, a French teacher. As a young girl, she started her career in entertainment, landing the famous part of Dee Thomas, Raj’s sassy and witty younger sister, on the ABC sitcom What’s Happening!! in 1976. Spencer’s comedic timing and memorable one-liners made her a fan favorite, and the show, which was based on the movie Cooley High, swiftly became a beloved television staple.
After airing for three seasons from 1976 to 1979, What’s Happening!! gave rise to a sequel called What’s Happening Now!!, which ran from 1985 to 1988. Spencer solidified her place in TV history by playing Dee again, this time as a college student.
Spencer experienced a significant personal tragedy in the middle of her TV career. She and her stepfather were involved in a car accident on September 6, 1977, which killed Tim Pelt and left her in a coma for three weeks. Spencer experienced long-term health issues as a result of the experience, including spinal injuries that eventually caused paralysis. She showed incredible fortitude and perseverance throughout her life in spite of these setbacks.
Despite battling and overcoming breast cancer in 2014 and undergoing emergency brain surgery in 2018 due to a bleeding hematoma, Spencer remained resilient and positive, receiving praise from friends, fans, and co-stars for her fortitude.
Inspired and supported by her late stepfather, Spencer followed her love of animal care after her career in television. She received her degree in veterinary medicine from Tuskegee University Veterinary School and the University of California, Davis in 1996. She went on to become a committed veterinarian who was well-known for her empathy and support of animal rights.
In her memoir, Through the Fire: Journal of a Child Star, Spencer detailed her path from Hollywood to veterinary medicine and advocated for the humane treatment of animals.
After a protracted fight with cancer, Danielle Spencer died in Richmond, Virginia, on August 11, 2025. Haywood Nelson, a longtime friend and co-star, announced her passing. Spencer’s brother, Jeremy, and mother survive her.
Fans and coworkers paid tribute to her after her death, showcasing not only her well-known television role but also her work as a cancer survivor, advocate, and healer. The foundation of Spencer’s legacy is her resilience, her influence on entertainment, and her kind work in veterinary medicine. She will go down as a cherished child star, a practical fighter, and a role model for many.