Danielle Spencer, the beloved actress who captured hearts because the sharp-tongued little sister Dee Thomas on the traditional Nineteen Seventies sitcom What’s Taking place!!, has died on the age of 60. A household spokesperson confirmed that Spencer handed away on Monday at a hospital in Richmond, Virginia, following a years-long battle with most cancers.
As Dee, Spencer was the smarter, extra critical youthful sibling who grew to become a fan favourite for her deadpan roasts of her massive brother Roger “Raj” Thomas and his associates. Her memorable catchphrase, “Ooh, I’m gonna inform mama,” grew to become a cultural staple. The present, which ran on ABC from 1976 to 1979, was among the many first on tv to give attention to the lives of Black youngsters and is remembered for its iconic characters, together with the geeky Raj and the dancing phenom Rerun.
Spencer’s life was marked by exceptional resilience. Early within the present’s first season, at simply 12 years outdated, she was concerned in a serious automobile accident that left her in a three-week coma and tragically killed her stepfather. The crash induced spinal and neurological issues that may require a number of surgical procedures all through her life. In 2018, she underwent emergency surgical procedure for a bleeding hematoma stemming from the 1977 accident. She had additionally been identified with breast most cancers in 2014, resulting in a double mastectomy.
Regardless of these well being challenges, Spencer pursued a brand new ardour, incomes a doctorate in veterinary medication from Tuskegee College in 1993. She went on to grow to be a devoted veterinarian and advocate for animals. Her former co-star, Haywood Nelson, who performed Dwayne on the present, paid tribute to her on Instagram, honoring her as a “good, loving, optimistic, pragmatic warrior” and a “most cancers heroine.”
Spencer, who started appearing at age 9, additionally appeared within the mid-Eighties reboot What’s Taking place Now!! and had a job as a veterinarian within the 1997 Jack Nicholson movie, As Good because it Will get. She is survived by her mom, Cheryl Pelt, and her brother, musician Jeremy Pelt.
