Danielle Spencer, an American actress-vet, had a net worth of $1 million when she died in August 2025. Although she was referred to as Dee off-screen, Spencer is best known as Dee Thomas from the 1970s sitcom What’s Happening!! and recently the 1980s reboot What’s Happening Now!! Spencer is a staple of classic American television.
Spencer was clever and well-spoken and was the first young Black female lead of a sitcom who provided a significant amount of airtime in the American pop landscape. Spencer later exited Hollywood, as her first desire was to become a veterinarian, and she devoted herself to the overall care and treatment of animals for 20 years while having some major health struggles.
Early Life
Danielle Louise Spencer was born on June 24, 1965, in the Bronx in New York City. She came from a progressive family and got support for her passion for the arts. Spencer was immersed in performance at a young age. After not passing her first audition for What’s Happening!!, Spencer was called back and received again the role of Dee Thomas, which changed the rest of her life.
Tim Pelt is Spencer’s stepfather and played an important role in launching her career. Spencer credited Tim Pelt for helping her to manage the challenges of being an actor at such a young age.
Acting Career
In 1976, Spencer was cast in What’s Happening!! as Dee Thomas, the sassy little sister of Raj (Ernest Thomas). The pathbreaking sitcom chronicled the experience of Black teenagers, with much of the inspiration coming from the film Cooley High.
Signature Role—Dee was known for her sassy attitude and her catchphrase, “Ooh, I’m telling Mama”;
Series Run—Spencer appeared on 65 episodes over three seasons.
Revivals—Spencer appeared in 16 episodes of the spin-off series What’s Happening Now!! (1985-1988).
Late Cameo—She made a cameo in the film As Good as It Gets (1997) as a vet, and the character and her antics were comparable to her real-life work.
While her Hollywood career didn’t last much longer, Spencer left behind an impact! She was one of the first young Black actresses to gain broad exposure.
Education and Vet Work
Spencer pursued yet another childhood dream, as a veterinarian.
Studied marine biology at UCLA.
She attained her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Tuskegee University in 1993.
Actively worked in veterinary medicine for decades and was well-known for being very caring regarding animals.
Spencer’s transition in careers towards her childhood ambitions demonstrated her determination to fulfill her dreams not only in the Hollywood entertainment industry but also holistically.
Challenges and Health Issues
Spencer’s life has had many highs and lows:
Car Accident—While on What’s Happening!!, she had a serious car accident with her stepfather in one accident. Spencer’s stepfather died, and Spencer was in a coma for many weeks, along with having lasting injuries.
Spinal Stenosis—Surgical intervention for medical complications from the car accident delayed Spencer.
Breast Cancer—She underwent a double mastectomy. Brain Surgery 2018—Required emergency surgery on the heels of another health challenge, inevitable.
Spencer never turned a blind eye to her struggles, and they were important, which enabled her fans to relate to her and offered them encouragement in her strength and her honesty.
Recognition & Legacy
In 2016, Danielle Spencer was one of the few honored in the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture for her contributions to television, ensuring people would see her in What’s Happening!! as a part of Black cultural history.
She died on August 11, 2025, in Richmond, Virginia, at the age of 60, from gastric cancer and cardiac arrest. She is survived by her mother, Cheryl Pelt, and her brother, jazz musician Jeremy Pelt.
Spencer’s life story is one of reinvention, resilience, and representation—from making millions of people laugh as Dee Thomas to saving animal lives as part of her career as a veterinarian.
Danielle Spencer Net Worth
At the time of her death, Danielle Spencer’s net worth was estimated at $1 million. Her net worth came from:
Salary from What’s Happening!! and What’s Happening Now!!
Appearances in films and television
Years of dedicated service as a veterinarian
While Spencer didn’t have as much financial wealth as some of her Hollywood colleagues, her true wealth was her value as an impact on culture and humanitarian service.
Questions & Answers about Danielle Spencer
What was Danielle Spencer’s net worth?
Danielle Spencer’s net worth was about $1 million.
What was the role that made Spencer famous?
She became famous for being known as Dee Thomas from the television sitcoms What’s Happening!! and What’s Happening Now!!.
Did she pursue acting after the show?
Her time in front of cameras was limited, encasing a cameo role in As Good as It Gets (1997)! And transitioned her career to be a veterinary surgeon.
Did she become a veterinarian?
Yes. Receiving her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1993 from Tuskegee University, she worked for many years as a veterinarian.
What health challenges did she have?
She survived a car accident, fought breast cancer, had brain surgery, and eventually passed from gastric cancer in 2025.
How is Danielle Spencer remembered today?
Like a first child star of influence, a skilled veterinarian, and a strong person who overcame major challenges for the sake of leaving behind her cultural legacy.
