What’s Happening cast now: What’s Happening!! cast now: Where they are, and how they’re remembered

What’s Happening!! ruled the sitcom genre in the seventies with its raw take on the lives of African-American teenagers coming from a working-class background. The show was loved so much that it later led to a spinoff series where most of the cast reprised their roles.

Set in a Los Angeles neighborhood, the series narrates the story of three teenagers and their chaotic lives. The show premiered in 1976 and ran for three years before wrapping up in 1979. While it's been decades since the show aired, the cast and characters of What’s Happening!! are still fondly remembered by the fans.

Here's a look at the cast of What's Happening!! in 2025.

What’s Happening!! cast now: Where are they now?

1) Ernest Lee Thomas

The protagonist of What’s Happening!! was Raj, played by Ernest Lee Thomas. He was a chaotic teenager who often found himself in trouble. Apart from What’s Happening!!, Thomas appeared in the spinoff show. The 76-year-old actor is among the few people from the main cast still active and appearing on screen. He recently appeared in the series, Diarra from Detroit.

2) Danielle Spencer

Danielle Spencer played Dee, the sarcastic younger sister of Raj in What’s Happening!!. She did not have an easy life when it came to health and struggled with various illnesses throughout her life, until she died of cancer on August 11, 2025.

Other than the show and its spinoff, Spencer appeared in several other shows. However, she mainly spent her life as a veterinarian and was also an author who wrote the book, Through the Fire: Journal of a Child Star. In 2014, she was inducted in the NMAAHC (National Museum of African American History and Culture). She is also remembered as an active animal rights supporter and for representing the minority in the entertainment industry.

3) Haywood Nelson

Ernest Lee Thomas and Haywood Nelson (Image via Instagram/haywoodnelsonofficial)

Nelson was the youngest among the trio of friends in What’s Happening!!. He played Dwayne on the show. From a very young age, Nelson appeared in numerous shows, films, and commercials. However, after 2003, his presence on screen has been scant.

As per Remind magazine, the actor is now a producer and also a Digital Media Executive.

4) Mabel King

Mabel King in What's Happening!! (Image via ABC)

Mabel King was one of the most important characters in What’s Happening!!. She appeared as Raj and Dee’s mother, who didn’t go soft on her beloved but troublemaking children.

Before transitioning to TV and films, King had a stable career on Broadway. As reported by Remind, the veteran actress passed away in 1999. She will be remembered for her presence in not only TV shows but also her work on stage.

5) Fred Berry

Fred Berry (Image via Instagram/haywoodnelsonofficial)

Discussing What’s Happening!! is incomplete without mentioning Fred Berry, who played Freddy ‘Rerun’ in the sitcom, and is regarded as one of the most humorous characters on the show. Other than being an actor, Berry was also a Baptist minister and motivational speaker, and, as per Remind, had changed his middle name to ‘Rerun’, due to the popularity of his character.

Berry died at the age of 52 due to natural causes, but is still remembered for his What’s Happening!! character, due to the humor he brought to the show.

6) Shirley Hemphill

Shirley Hemphill (Image via Instagram/haywoodnelsonofficial)

Hemphill was a popular stand-up comedian, and even after appearing in several superhit shows, like What’s Happening!!, she did not stop doing stand-up comedy shows. Her character, Shirley Wilson, was among the most popular oned from the sitcom due to her witty and confident personality.

The stand-up comedian passed away due to kidney failure in 1999. She was 52. Hemphill might have left too soon, but she is still remembered for her career as a stand-up comedian and an actress.