‘What’s Happening!!’ Star Danielle Spencer Honored at Celebration of Life Ceremony

Danielle Spencer may be gone, but she’s certainly not forgotten.

Holly Robinson Peete, Haywood Nelson and Kim Fields shared Instagram posts from a celebration of life ceremony held in Richmond, Virginia, on Aug. 21, for the What’s Happening!! actress, who died earlier this month on Aug. 11 at the age of 60.

“Yesterday in Richmond, I had the honor of remembering Dr. Danielle Spencer — known to the world as the hilarious ‘Dee’ from What’s Happening — but to me, she was my sweet girlfriend and schoolmate when we were just 12 and 13,” Peete wrote in the post, shared Friday, Aug. 22. “I will never forget her kindness, her grace, and her strength through life’s many challenges.”

“Being with her family and loved ones … and sharing in the love of those who were with her in her final moments is something I will cherish forever,” the 21 Jump Street alum added. “Rest in heavenly peace, Danielle. You will always be remembered with so much love.”

Peete ended her post, which included several photos and video clips from the event, with a quote she attributed to Spencer, which read: “I’ve been through fire, but I came out stronger. Every challenge I faced was a step toward the woman I was meant to be.”

Nelson, who starred on What’s Happening!! with the actress, posted a video from inside Spencer’s memorial service.

“We’re here for Danielle Spencer. This is her memorial, her wonderful memorial day. It was a homegoing. We love her, we miss her, but we have her forever — and so do you,” he said in the video, which also featured his wife, Paula DeJesus. “This was an incredible celebration of her life.”

“A hard yet meaningful day in a home-going celebration of Dr. Danielle Luise Spencer,” he wrote in the caption. “So much appreciation for the love shared.”

Both Nelson and Spencer reprised their What’s Happening!! roles on What’s Happening Now!!, the show’s sequel series.

Fields also shared a post from Spencer’s celebration of life ceremony.

“Had the honor of speaking today, celebrating her life,” she wrote of Spencer alongside a video of her blowing a kiss to her longtime friend, whose photo was displayed on a digital billboard outside the venue. “Our intersecting began pre everything. New York days. Our parents were in acting school together.”

Fields referenced her choice of footwear, a pair of “Barbie pink heels just for her,” that she wore “in honor of our epic Barbie playdates.”

“She had the most incredible collection (dolls and ALL the Barbie toys),” she continued. “I added to her collection today with a black veterinarian Barbie, presenting it to her mom. Dani left acting and became a successful veterinarian, DOCTOR Danielle Spencer.”

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Nelson announced Spencer’s death in Instagram post on Aug. 12.

“Brilliance! It comes in a great many forms. We all have them, and we all have this family’s — Dr. Danielle Spencer (June 24, 1965 – August 11, 2025),” shared Nelson in the social media post.

“Dr. Dee, our brilliant, loving, positive, pragmatic warrior, without fail, has finally found her release from the clutches of this world and a body,” he added. “We celebrate Danielle Spencer and her contributions as we regret to inform her departure and transition from a long battle with cancer.”

“We have lost a daughter, sister, family member, What’s Happening!! cast member, veterinarian, animal rights proponent and healer, and cancer heroine. Our Shero. Danielle is loved. She will be missed in this form and forever embraced.”

A cause of death has not been announced.