Andy Cohen posted a sweet tribute to a beloved 1970s TV star following her death. On August 12, the Bravo host honored late actress Danielle Spencer on his Instagram story.
Spencer played sarcastic little sister, Dee Thomas, on the ’70 sitcom “What’s Happening!!” as well as the spinoff, “What’s Happening Now.”
Cohen, 57, shared a throwback photo of Spencer wearing denim overalls with daisies embroidered on them. “She made me laugh EVERY TIME she was on screen. RIP,” Cohen wrote, adding a red heart emoji.
Spencer died on August 11, 2025, at age 60 due to gastric cancer and cardiac arrest, her family spokesperson, Sandra Jones, shared in a statement, according to Newsweek.
Danielle Spencer Was the 1st Child Star To Be Inducted Into the Smithsonian Museum
GettyMost of Spencer’s acting career was spent on “What’s Happening!!” from 1976 to 1979, and the spinoff series in the mid-1980s. By 1993, she graduated from veterinary school and focused on her career as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. But her sassy, tattletale teen character made a big impression on fans who watched “What’s Happening.”
In 2014, Spencer became the first child star from a television sitcom to be inducted into the Smithsonian Museum. She remains part of a permanent exhibition of the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C.
“I still can’t believe it,” Spencer told ABC News of the honor in 2014. “That’s something people can look at for years to come, long after I’m gone.”
Andy Cohen Has a Love for Classic TV
Cohen was a teen himself when “What’s Happening” aired its original run. The host has long made known his love for classic TV, so it’s no surprise that Spencer’s death made him nostalgic for her comedic timing.
Cohen once joked in an Associated Press interview that a midtown New York steakhouse owned by a close friend was his own “Regal Beagle,” a nod to the bar/restaurant featured in the ’70s sitcom Three’s Company.
He also told fans on “Watch What Happens Live” that he has a TV obsession and rushes home from work to watch what was recorded on his DVR.
Cohen’s Bravo Clubhouse is filled with nostalgic pop culture items from past TV shows and specials, including Donny & Marie dolls, several Snoopy Pez dispensers, and an iconic Flip Wilson and Geraldine talking doll inspired by Wilson’s self-titled variety show, per BravoTV.com.
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Andy Cohen Pays Sweet Tribute to Late ‘70s Sitcom Star