Former child star Danielle Spencer is known for her role as Dee Thomas on the popular sitcom What’s Happening!! The TV show, which was inspired by the Blaxploitation comedy Cooley High (1975), ran from 1976 to 1979. During the second season of What’s Happening!!, Spencer and her stepfather Tim Pelt were in a severe car accident that put Spencer, 11, in a coma for three weeks and killed her stepfather. Eight years later, Spencer reprised her role as Dee in 1985 sequel What’s Happening Now!! which ran for three seasons. Spencer will talk about her acting career and personal life on Oprah: Where Are They Now? on November 19.
[Danielle Spencer is the author of Through the Fire…Journal of a Child Star]
Since What’s Happening Now!! Spencer married and became a veterinarian. Once in a while, she acts. Spencer portrayed the veterinarian (too easy!) in the 1997 film As Good as It Gets with Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt and Greg Kinnear. Oprah: Where Are They Now? airs Saturdays at 10pm on OWN.
