The What’s Happening!! cast has been through a lot since they last worked together on their sequel sitcom, What’s Happening Now!! Multiple actors from the show have died, with the most recent being Danielle Spencer, who played Dee Thomas. She battled multiple health issues, including cancer.
Through the end of her life, Danielle remained friends with some of her former co-stars, including Haywood Nelson, who played Dwayne on the show. Haywood announced her death in an Instagram post on August 12, 2025, calling Danielle a “brilliant, loving, positive, pragmatic warrior, without fail.”
Ernest Thomas, who played Danielle’s on-screen brother, Raj, also shared a heartfelt tribute to the late actress and veterinarian via Instagram. He wrote, in part, “No more suffering for my baby sister Dr. Danielle Spencer.”
Born on June 24th 1965 in Bronx, NY., This Amazing Child Actress is Most Known to Us For Playing Dee Thomas in the Hit Sitcom What’s Happening! #daniellespencer #whatshappening pic.twitter.com/eUU8OlrUvb
— 80sThen80sNow (@80sThen80sNow) August 12, 2025
Below, learn where the rest of the What’s Happening!! cast members are now.
Ernest played the teen protagonist, Raj, who frequently stumbled into comical trouble and had to find a way out of it.
Ernest had already established himself as an actor before landing his lead role in What’s Happening!! Three years after the show was canceled, he reprised his role as Raj for the sequel series, What’s Happening Now!! and he eventually landed the role of Mr. Omar in Everybody Hates Chris. Since 2024, Ernest has voiced the role of Mr. Omar in the animated sitcom Everybody Still Hates Chris.
