Danielle Spencer (born June 24, 1965) is an American actress and former child star best known for her role as the sarcastic Dee Thomas on the ABC sitcom What's Happening!!, which ran from 1976 to 1979. She would later reprise the role in four episodes on the series' sequel, What's Happening Now!!.
Spencer is the stepdaughter of actor Tim Pelt, who was killed in a car accident on September 7, 1977. Spencer herself was seriously injured and suffers chronic back pain as a result of that same accident.
Spencer attended the University of California-Davis two years (1983–85) to pursue her a degree in veterinary medicine, a pursuit encouraged by her late stepfather. She later took a break from her studies to participate in the revival of her character, Dee, in What's Happening Now!! (1985–1988). While matriculating her sophomore year, Danielle pledged and became a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority.
Spencer attended Tuskegee University Veterinary School, in Tuskegee, Alabama and became a veterinarian in 1996. She also portrayed a veterinarian in the films As Good as It Gets in 1997 and Peter Rabbit and the Crucifix in 2001.
Spencer has been married since 1999.
Spencer tied with Alison Arngrim, who played Nellie Oleson on Little House on the Prairie, for the "Character Most in Need of a Time-out" award on the 2006 TV Land Awards.
Famous quotes containing the word spencer:
“The essence of democracy is its assurance that every human being should so respect himself and should be so respected in his own personality that he should have opportunity equal to that of every other human being to “show what he was meant to become.””
—Anna Garlin Spencer (1851–1931)