Danielle Spencer was born on June 24 1965 in Trenton, New Jersey. Her parents divorced when she was very young, and her mother married Tim Pelt, who she counted as her father. She began acting when she was only seven years old. It was in 1976 that she was cast as Dee Thomas, the younger sister of lead character Roger "Raj" Thomas (Ernest Thomas), on the sitcom What's Happening!!. The show ran for only three seasons, but proved very popular in syndication.
Danielle Spencer also guest starred on The Brady Bunch Variety Hour and NBC Special Treat. She would later reprise her role as an older Dee Thomas on the syndicated sequel series What's Happening Now!!. She has a cameo as a veterinarian in the movie As Good as It Gets (1997). She also had a cameo in an episode of Days of Our Lives in 2001.She also appeared as a veterinarian in the short "Peter Rabbit and the Crucifix" (2001).
Danielle Spencer attended the University of California-Davis and later UCLA. She earned a degree in veterinary medicine at Tuskegee University in 1993. She set up practice in Santa Clarita, California, then moved to Richmond, Virginia where she set up a practice. In her capacity as a veterinarian she appeared on local CBS affiliate WTVR-TV where she hosted segments on health care.
In 2014 Danielle Spencer became the first and only child star inducted into the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Danielle Spencer's acting career was brief, but a Dee Thomas on What's Happening!! she had an enormous impact. Dee was smart and funny, and always spoke her mind. She often delivered her lines deadpan and tended to be down-to-earth when it came to family life. Her catchphrase, "Ooh, I'm gong to tell Mama," became popular in the late Seventies. Dee became very popular with teenage girls. Of course, Dr. Spencer was also well-respected as a veterinarian and known for her compassion for both animals and humans. She will be long remembered.
