Who was Danielle Spencer’s father Tim Pelt? 1977 accident killed actor and left beloved child star in coma

Child actor Danielle Spencer, who became known for her role in the ABC sitcom What’s Happening, has passed away at the age of 60 after a lengthy battle with cancer. The show reportedly aired from 1976 to 1979.

Her death was confirmed by her co-actor Haywood Nelson through Instagram. He wrote –

“We have lost a daughter, sister, family member, “What’s Happening” cast member, veterinarian animal rights proponent and healer, and cancer heroine.”

Spencer is survived by her brother, musician Jeremy Pelt, and her mother, Cheryl Pelt. Her stepfather, Tim Pelt, whom she considered her father, passed away in 1977 in a car accident in Malibu, California.

Born on 15 August 1946 in New York, USA, Tim, whose real name was Timothy Pelt, was an actor known for his roles in Come Back Charleston Blue (1972), Coming Home (1978), and Deadly Hero (1975), per his IMDb profile. He tied the knot with Danielle Spencer’s mother in 1974 and died three years later.

How did the 1977 accident affect Danielle Spencer in the long term?

Danielle Spencer was just 12 when she met with a near-fatal accident in September 1977 while travelling with her stepfather, Tim Pelt. The actress who was famous for starring in the TV series, What’s Happening, was a passenger in the vehicle.

In a November 2023 post, she recalled her stepfather, whom she considered her father after he married her mom, Cheryl Pelt. She wrote –

“I never got to know my father, actor Timothy Pelt, because he died in a car crash in 1977, 2 months shy of my 1st bday, but luckily through my mother, sister, and scores of relatives on his side, I got the picture of him and his determination. He was determined to be an actor, so much so, that even in the projects in Harlem, he was always dressing as FLY as he could, complete with sunglasses, etc.”

She added:

“He had VISION for himself. That was one of the biggest things I learned from him, however indirect! (And, for those that are wondering, he did go on to act in several films and would have been every bit the star, had he not died).”

The head-on 1977 accident proved fatal for her Pelt, who died while protecting her from harm. Spencer ended up suffering a broken left arm and facial injuries. As a result, she was in a coma for three weeks and spent six months recovering with physical therapy after the accident.

The accident did impact her career as her show was in the second season of production. During an appearance on Oprah: Where Are They Now? In 2016, she admitted that it “changed her life.” She said –

“Fortunately for me, I had the whole summer to heal, and I was right back on the show for the final season.”

However, she suffered a series of health setbacks due to the accident. In 2004, she suffered symptoms of spinal stenosis that left her close to paralysis. This left her confined to a wheelchair. She eventually learned to walk again after staying in a rehab, as per a report in the Associated Press.

She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014 and underwent a double mastectomy, according to a report in The New York Times.

Trending

Later in 2018, Danielle Spencer underwent an emergency brain surgery. She was admitted to the hospital after a surgery for a bleeding hematoma, a result of a 1977 car accident.

After the show, What’s Happening!!, came to an end, Danielle Spencer went to Africa before enrolling at the University of California, Davis, where she studied veterinary medicine. The child artist then attended the Tuskegee University Veterinary School in Tuskegee, Alabama, after which she became a veterinarian.

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback