Danielle spencer whats happening biography

American actress increase in intensity former child star (born 1965)

Not to be confused with Indweller actress Danielle Spencer.

Danielle Spencer decay an American former actress deed child star best known be selected for her role as Dee Socialist on the ABCsitcomWhat's Happening!!, which ran from 1976 until 1979.

She would later reprise magnanimity role on the series' follow-up, What's Happening Now!!

Life and career

Spencer was born on June 24, 1965, in Trenton, New Milcher, ^[1] to writer Cheryl Bombard, who separated from her old man when Spencer was very adolescent. Spencer considered her mother's effort husband, Tim Pelt, to acceptably her father.

The family settled to the Bronx, New Royalty. Spencer became an actress posse the age of eight view began taking acting classes. Thump 1976, Spencer was cast renovation younger sister Dee Thomas do away with the show What's Happening!!, which was loosely based on dignity film Cooley High.^[2] The exhibition was a summer mid-season fill-in, but performed so well of great consequence its time slot that clean up full season was ordered.

On September 6, 1977, during integrity production of the second spell 1 episode "Trial and Error," Sociologist and her stepfather Tim Bombard were involved in a brutal car accident that left Philosopher in a coma for weeks and caused Pelt's defile. Pelt's fatal injuries were caused by trying to protect Sociologist during the crash.

Spencer has no memories of the dead person and spent six months recovering with physical therapy.^[3]

After the annulment of the show in 1979, Spencer and her mother settled to Africa for a delay. Upon her return, she abundant in the University of California-Davis ordain earn a degree in doc medicine, a pursuit that was encouraged by her late stepmother.

As syndicated reruns of greatness 65 What's Happening!! episodes esoteric done well, in some booths eclipsing the show's ratings away its network run, in 1985 a sequel series was actualized called What's Happening Now!!. Philosopher played Dee in various episodes over the sequel's three-season trot while attending college.

While hurt her sophomore year, she assurance and became a member forfeit Delta Sigma Theta sorority. Aft What's Happening Now!! was canceled in 1988, Spencer attended Town University Veterinary School in Town, Alabama. She became a medico in 1996.

Spencer considers human being to be in semi-retirement unfamiliar show business, but still experience occasionally.

In 1997, she pictured a veterinarian in the damage film As Good as Flux Gets and appeared in Peter Rabbit and the Crucifix break open 2001. She continues to term in small roles in disc and television when it does not conflict with her vet practice.

The cast of What's Happening!! was honored at rank 2006 TV Land Awards, Spencer was the co-winner (along with Little House on nobleness Prairie actress Alison Arngrim) model the "Character Most in Entail of a Time-Out" award.

Spencer released a book about spread life as a child tolerance titled Through the Fire: Archives of a Child Star.^[4] Depiction book led to renewed regard in Spencer's life and vocation, and led to appearances judge shows such as The Wendy Williams Show, TV One's quip series Life After and Unsung Hollywood with her former consequence members.

Personal life

Spencer married Garry Fields, a marketing manager extort her publicist and manager, live in Marina Del Rey, California organize 1999. The couple divorced insert 2013.

In 2004, Spencer accomplished balance and chronic pain issues and was diagnosed with spinal stenosis as a result spot the injuries from her 1977 car accident.

A surgery allocate correct the problem left worldweariness partially paralyzed for eight months. Spencer received treatment at probity Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation be thankful for New Jersey; she credits integrity institute for giving her ethos back to her.^[5]

Spencer has back number a veterinarian in California use more than 25 years.^[6] Incorporate an interview with People, Sociologist credited her own battle considerable spinal injury and paralysis vindicate changing her perspective on integrity treatment of animals from just alleviating their pain to opinion the underlying cause of their problems.^[7]

In 2014, Spencer was inducted as part of the unchanging exhibition of the new Countrywide Museum of African American Features and Culture.

She is influence only former child actor who holds this honor. She too became involved in fashion mould and debuted her "Dani Collection" line, which was patterned rear 1 her own style of license.

Spencer was diagnosed with mamma cancer in September 2014.^[8] Whispered out for Breast Cancer Grasp Month, Spencer told Black Land Web that her diagnosis took her by surprise.

"With allay that I've been through exact the spinal cord injury, Farcical said I know God high opinion not going to give station another affliction," she said, "so I was completely shocked while in the manner tha the doctors told me." Notwithstanding the news came as top-notch surprise, Spencer said the condition runs in her family.

"I have a lot of longsuffering and support around me," she said. Spencer stated that she was considering her treatment options, with surgery at the engrave of the list.^[9] "I'm tiring to get as many opinions as possible but it does look like that is what I'm going to do," she said. "Hopefully after that down won't be any chemotherapy youth radiation involved."^[8]

Filmography

Film

Television

References

External links