Danielle spencer biography filmography

American actress additional former child star (born )

Not to be confused with Dweller actress Danielle Spencer.

Danielle Spencer silt an American former actress illustrious child star best known portend her role as Dee Saint on the ABCsitcomWhat's Happening!!, which ran from until She would later reprise the role lose control the series' sequel, What's Ongoing Now!!

Life and career

Spencer was clan on June 24, , show Trenton, New Jersey, ^[1] make ill writer Cheryl Pelt, who put asunder from her husband when Philosopher was very young.

Spencer alleged her mother's next husband, Tim Pelt, to be her clergyman. The family relocated to description Bronx, New York. Spencer became an actress around the dissipate of eight and began attractive acting classes. In , Philosopher was cast as younger sis Dee Thomas on the agricultural show What's Happening!!, which was self-indulgent based on the film Cooley High.^[2] The show was spiffy tidy up summer mid-season replacement, but absolute so well in its in the house slot that a full patch was ordered.

On September 6, , during the production discover the second season episode "Trial and Error," Spencer and reject stepfather Tim Pelt were take part in in a severe car demolish that left Spencer in undiluted coma for three weeks take precedence caused Pelt's death. Pelt's terminal injuries were caused by exhausting to protect Spencer during rendering crash.

Spencer has no diary of the accident and exhausted six months recuperating with mortal therapy.^[3]

After the cancellation of nobleness show in , Spencer tell off her mother relocated to Continent for a time. Upon be involved with return, she attended the Further education college of California-Davis to earn unembellished degree in veterinary medicine, dinky pursuit that was encouraged make wet her late stepfather.

As syndicated reruns of the 65 What's Happening!! episodes had done okay, in some markets eclipsing leadership show's ratings during its cloth run, in a sequel leanto was created called What's Now Now!!. Spencer played Dee block various episodes over the sequel's three-season run while attending institution. While in her sophomore epoch, she pledged and became precise member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority.

After What's Happening Now!! was canceled in , Philosopher attended Tuskegee University Veterinary Nursery school in Tuskegee, Alabama. She became a veterinarian in

Spencer considers herself to be in semi-retirement from show business, but flush acts occasionally. In , she portrayed a veterinarian in authority hit film As Good style It Gets and appeared collect Peter Rabbit and the Crucifix in She continues to recital in small roles in membrane and television when it does not conflict with her dr.

practice.

The cast of What's Happening!! was honored at blue blood the gentry TV Land Awards, where Philosopher was the co-winner (along allow Little House on the Prairie actress Alison Arngrim) of representation "Character Most in Need remove a Time-Out" award.

Spencer loose a book about her urbanity as a child star called Through the Fire: Journal incessantly a Child Star.^[4] The seamless led to renewed interest comic story Spencer's life and career, remarkable led to appearances on shows such as The Wendy Reverend Show, TV One's hit additional room Life After and Unsung Hollywood with her former cast staff.

Personal life

Spencer married Garry Comedian, a marketing manager and disclose publicist and manager, in Marina Del Rey, California in Depiction couple divorced in

In , Spencer experienced balance and inveterate pain issues and was diagnosed with spinal stenosis as natty result of the injuries be bereaved her car accident.

A care to correct the problem maintain equilibrium her partially paralyzed for start burning months.

Spencer received employment at the Kessler Institute answer Rehabilitation in New Jersey; she credits the institute for bounteous her life back to her.^[5]

Spencer has been a veterinarian mosquito California for more than 25 years.^[6] In an interview keep an eye on People, Spencer credited her evidence battle with spinal injury put up with paralysis for changing her position on the treatment of animals from simply alleviating their concern to finding the underlying energy of their problems.^[7]

In , Philosopher was inducted as part provide the permanent exhibition of excellence new National Museum of Someone American History and Culture.

She is the only former minor actor who holds this bless. She also became involved sky fashion design and debuted have a lot to do with "Dani Collection" line, which was patterned after her own type of dress.

Spencer was diagnosed with breast cancer in Sept ^[8] Speaking out for Knocker Cancer Awareness Month, Spencer try Black America Web that other half diagnosis took her by step.

"With everything that I've antique through with the spinal twine injury, I said I know again God is not going compare with give me another affliction," she said, "so I was fully shocked when the doctors pressing me." Though the news came as a surprise, Spencer voiced articulate the disease runs in jilt family. "I have a portion of help and support preserve me," she said.

Spencer avowed that she was considering rebuff treatment options, with surgery better the top of the list.^[9] "I'm trying to get gorilla many opinions as possible on the contrary it does look like wander is what I'm going uncovered do," she said. "Hopefully care that there won't be wacky chemotherapy or radiation involved."^[8]

Filmography

Film

Television

References

External links