Danielle Spencer, who played little sister Dee on ‘What’s Happening!!,’ Dies at 60

Danielle Spencer, best known for playing wisecracking little sister Dee Thomas on the 1970s sitcom What’s Happening!!, died August 11, 2025, at age 60 in Richmond, Virginia, after a long battle with cancer, her family announced. As Dee, Spencer became iconic for her deadpan humor, eyerolls, and catchphrase, “Ooh, I’m gonna tell mama,” often aimed at big brother Raj and his friends Dwayne and Rerun.

The ABC series, based on Cooley High, aired from 1976 to 1979, depicting life in L.A.’s Watts neighborhood and breaking ground as one of the first shows centered on Black teenagers. Off-screen, Spencer endured tragedy during the show’s first season when, at 12, she was in a car accident that killed her stepfather and left her in a coma for three weeks, leading to lifelong spinal and neurological issues. After acting, she became a veterinarian, remembered for her resilience, wit, and lasting impact on television history.