It was the late 70s. If you weren’t wearing polyester or listening to disco, you were probably parked in front of a wood-paneled TV set watching three friends navigate the streets of Watts, Los Angeles. What’s Happening!! wasn't just another sitcom. It was a cultural touchstone that felt real, even when the laugh track was working overtime. People still shout "Hey, hey, hey!" when they see a beret. But Hollywood is a fickle place. One day you're the biggest star on ABC, and the next, you're wondering where the royalty checks went. Tracking the What’s Happening cast members through the decades reveals a story that is way more complicated than the upbeat theme song suggested.
Success didn't treat everyone the same.
The Rollercoaster Life of Ernest Thomas (Raj)
Ernest Thomas was the glue. As Roger "Raj" Thomas, he was the aspiring writer we all rooted for. He had that nerdy-but-cool energy that felt relatable. After the show ended in 1979, things got quiet. Real quiet. Thomas has been incredibly open about the "post-sitcom blues." He didn't just walk into another leading role. Instead, he dealt with the reality of being typecast. It’s tough when people only see you as a teenager in glasses.
He eventually found his footing again. You might have spotted him in Malcolm X or, more recently, as Mr. Omar in Everybody Hates Chris. He’s a survivor. He often talks about his faith and how it kept him grounded when the industry turned its back. Honestly, seeing him still working and engaging with fans at conventions is a testament to his resilience. He didn't let the "child star curse" take him under, even though it tried.
Fred Berry and the Shadow of Rerun
Fred Berry didn't just play a character; he created an icon. Fred "Rerun" Stubbs was the breakout star. The dancing, the suspenders, the infectious laugh—he was the one everyone wanted to see. But behind the scenes, Berry was struggling. He knew he was the draw, and he fought for better pay. This led to massive friction with the producers.
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Berry's life was a series of highs and lows. He became a millionaire and then lost it. He struggled with drug addiction for years. It's a heavy story. He once mentioned in an interview that he went through his money faster than he could make it, largely due to the lifestyle that came with being a 70s TV star. Eventually, he found peace through religion and became an ordained minister. He even tried to bring the character back in the 85-88 reboot, What's Happening Now!!, but the magic was different. He passed away in 2003, leaving behind a legacy of laughter that masked a lot of personal pain.
People still try to mimic his dance moves. They usually fail.
Haywood Nelson: Moving Behind the Lens
Haywood Nelson, who played Dwayne "Hey, hey, hey" Nelson, took a very different path. He was the heartthrob of the trio. While he stayed in the industry, he realized early on that the real power was behind the camera. It was a smart move.
He transitioned into technical production. If you look at his credits, he’s spent decades working as a digital media consultant and involved in the tech side of entertainment. He’s one of the few who managed to transition into a "normal" successful career without the public meltdowns that often plague former child stars. He’s private. He’s professional. He basically cracked the code on how to survive fame: get a skill that doesn't rely on your face being on a poster.
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Danielle Spencer’s Incredible Survival Story
If you want to talk about grit, you talk about Danielle Spencer. As Dee Thomas, she had the best lines. "Ooh, I'm gonna tell Mama!" became a national catchphrase. But life after the show was anything but a sitcom.
In 1977, while the show was still a hit, she was in a devastating car accident that killed her stepfather and left her in a coma for weeks. She had to learn to walk again while continuing to film a comedy. Think about that for a second. The strength required to be "funny Dee" while your body is broken is staggering.
She eventually left acting to become a veterinarian. It wasn’t a backup plan; it was a passion. However, her health struggles didn't end. She dealt with spinal stenosis and later a breast cancer diagnosis. Through it all, she’s remained an advocate for health and persistence. She’s probably the most inspiring of the bunch, purely because of the sheer amount of weight she’s had to carry.
The Supporting Players Who Made the Show
We can’t talk about the What’s Happening cast members without mentioning Mabel King and Shirley Hemphill.
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Mabel King, who played Mama, was a Broadway powerhouse before the show. She left early due to creative differences—she wanted the show to be more educational and less "slapstick." She felt the mother-headed household was being portrayed too simplistically. She was a woman of principle, even if it cost her a steady paycheck. She passed away in 1999 after a long battle with diabetes.
Then there was Shirley. Shirley Hemphill was a stand-up comedian first. Her timing was impeccable. After the show and its reboot, she continued to work the comedy circuit. She was a staple at The Comedy Store. Sadly, she passed away in 1999 from heart failure. She was found in her home, a quiet end for someone who brought so much loud, boisterous joy to millions of people.
Why the Show Still Matters in 2026
You might wonder why we are still talking about a show from nearly fifty years ago. It’s because it was one of the first times Black teenage life was shown as just... life. It wasn't always a "very special episode" about trauma. Sometimes it was just about trying to get tickets to a concert or failing a math test.
The cast members became family to the viewers. When we check in on them, we’re checking in on our own childhoods. The reality is that the industry was much harder on Black actors in the 70s and 80s than it is today. There were fewer roles, less pay, and almost no support systems for when the cameras stopped rolling.
What You Can Learn from Their Journeys
- Pivot when necessary. Haywood Nelson and Danielle Spencer realized the limelight wasn't permanent. They built careers in tech and medicine that sustained them for decades.
- Advocate for your worth, but watch the bridge. Fred Berry’s battle for higher pay was justified, but the way it was handled effectively ended the original run of the show. There's a balance between standing your ground and keeping your job.
- Health is everything. Nearly every cast member faced significant health hurdles. In an industry that treats people like products, taking care of your physical and mental well-being is the only real win.
- Legacy isn't about the money. Despite the financial struggles some faced, their impact on television history is permanent. You can't buy the kind of cultural footprint Fred Berry or Mabel King left behind.
If you're looking to reconnect with the show, most of it is available on streaming platforms like Prime Video or through retro networks like Antenna TV. Watching it now, you see the cracks in the production, but you also see the genuine chemistry. They weren't just actors; they were a unit. Even with the lawsuits, the accidents, and the career shifts, the What’s Happening cast members remain a vital piece of the American entertainment puzzle.
To dive deeper into the history of 70s sitcoms, look for the documentary The Sitcom: A History, which features interviews with several era-specific actors about the transition from stage to screen. You can also follow Ernest Thomas on social media; he is remarkably active and loves sharing behind-the-scenes stories with the "Raj" fans.