Meet The Iconic Cast Of "What's Happening!!"

Who was the cast of the tv show What's Happening?

The cast of the tv show What's Happening!! included:

  • Fred Berry as Rerun
  • Ernest Thomas as Roger "Raj" Thomas
  • Haywood Nelson as Dwayne Wayne
  • Shirley Hemphill as Shirley Wilson
  • Danielle Spencer as Dee
  • Mabel King as Mama
  • George Kirby as Sweet Daddy Williams
  • Roscoe Orman as Big Earl

What's Happening!! was an American sitcom that aired on ABC from August 5, 1976, to April 28, 1979. The show was created by Eric Monte and was a spin-off of the 1975 film Cooley High.

The show followed the lives of three friends, Raj, Dwayne, and Rerun, who lived in the fictional inner-city neighborhood of Watts, Los Angeles. The show was praised for its realistic portrayal of African-American life and for its humor.

The cast of What's Happening!! was nominated for two Emmy Awards and one Golden Globe Award. The show was also ranked number 48 on TV Guide's list of the 100 Greatest TV Shows of All Time.

The cast of What's Happening!! has been praised for their performances. Fred Berry, who played Rerun, was nominated for two Emmy Awards for his role. Ernest Thomas, who played Raj, was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for his role.

The cast of What's Happening!! has remained close over the years. They have reunited for several specials and have appeared together on talk shows and other television programs.

tv show what's happening cast

The cast of the tv show What's Happening!! played a pivotal role in the success of the show. The actors brought the characters to life and made them relatable to audiences. The cast included:

  • Fred Berry as Rerun
  • Ernest Thomas as Roger "Raj" Thomas
  • Haywood Nelson as Dwayne Wayne
  • Shirley Hemphill as Shirley Wilson
  • Danielle Spencer as Dee
  • Mabel King as Mama
  • George Kirby as Sweet Daddy Williams
  • Roscoe Orman as Big Earl

The cast of What's Happening!! was praised for their performances. Fred Berry was nominated for two Emmy Awards for his role as Rerun. Ernest Thomas was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for his role as Raj. The cast also received a nomination for a Grammy Award for their work on the show's soundtrack.

The cast of What's Happening!! remained close over the years. They have reunited for several specials and have appeared together on talk shows and other television programs.

Below is a table with personal details and bio data of the main cast members of What's Happening!!:

| Actor | Role | Birthdate | Birthplace ||---|---|---|---|| Fred Berry | Rerun | March 19, 1951 | St. Louis, Missouri || Ernest Thomas | Roger "Raj" Thomas | March 25, 1959 | Los Angeles, California || Haywood Nelson | Dwayne Wayne | May 25, 1943 | Chicago, Illinois || Shirley Hemphill | Shirley Wilson | July 1, 1947 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania || Danielle Spencer | Dee | January 20, 1962 | Los Angeles, California || Mabel King | Mama | December 27, 1932 | Charleston, South Carolina || George Kirby | Sweet Daddy Williams | June 30, 1923 | New York City, New York || Roscoe Orman | Big Earl | July 11, 1944 | Los Angeles, California |

Fred Berry as Rerun

Fred Berry's portrayal of Rerun on the tv show What's Happening!! was a breakout role for the actor. Rerun was a lovable and comedic character, and Berry's performance helped to make the show a success. Berry's portrayal of Rerun was also groundbreaking, as it was one of the first times that a black actor had played a lead role in a sitcom.

Rerun was a complex character. He was often funny and carefree, but he also had a serious side. Berry was able to capture all of these different aspects of Rerun's personality, and he created a character that was both relatable and entertaining.

Berry's performance as Rerun helped to make What's Happening!! one of the most popular sitcoms of the 1970s. The show was praised for its realistic portrayal of African-American life, and for its humor. Berry's performance as Rerun was a key part of the show's success.

Ernest Thomas as Roger "Raj" Thomas

Ernest Thomas's portrayal of Roger "Raj" Thomas on the tv show What's Happening!! was a groundbreaking role for the actor. Raj was one of the first Indian characters on American television, and Thomas's performance helped to break down stereotypes and pave the way for greater representation of Asian Americans in the media.

Raj was a complex and well-developed character. He was intelligent, ambitious, and had a strong sense of family. However, he also struggled with his identity as an Indian-American and often felt like an outsider. Thomas's performance captured all of these different aspects of Raj's personality, and he created a character that was both relatable and inspiring.

Thomas's performance as Raj helped to make What's Happening!! one of the most popular sitcoms of the 1970s. The show was praised for its realistic portrayal of African-American life, and for its humor. Thomas's performance as Raj was a key part of the show's success.

Haywood Nelson as Dwayne Wayne

Haywood Nelson's portrayal of Dwayne Wayne on the tv show What's Happening!! was a groundbreaking role for the actor. Dwayne was one of the first black characters on American television to be portrayed as intelligent and ambitious. Nelson's performance helped to break down stereotypes and pave the way for greater representation of African Americans in the media.

Dwayne was a complex and well-developed character. He was intelligent, ambitious, and had a strong sense of family. However, he also struggled with the pressures of being a black man in America. Nelson's performance captured all of these different aspects of Dwayne's personality, and he created a character that was both relatable and inspiring.

Nelson's performance as Dwayne helped to make What's Happening!! one of the most popular sitcoms of the 1970s. The show was praised for its realistic portrayal of African-American life, and for its humor. Nelson's performance as Dwayne was a key part of the show's success.

Shirley Hemphill as Shirley Wilson

Shirley Hemphill's portrayal of Shirley Wilson on the tv show What's Happening!! was a groundbreaking role for the actress. Shirley was one of the first black female characters on American television to be portrayed as a strong and independent woman. Hemphill's performance helped to break down stereotypes and pave the way for greater representation of African Americans in the media.

Shirley was a complex and well-developed character. She was intelligent, ambitious, and had a strong sense of family. However, she also struggled with the pressures of being a black woman in America. Hemphill's performance captured all of these different aspects of Shirley's personality, and she created a character that was both relatable and inspiring.

Hemphill's performance as Shirley helped to make What's Happening!! one of the most popular sitcoms of the 1970s. The show was praised for its realistic portrayal of African-American life, and for its humor. Hemphill's performance as Shirley was a key part of the show's success.

Danielle Spencer as Dee

Danielle Spencer's portrayal of Dee on the tv show What's Happening!! was a groundbreaking role for the actress. Dee was one of the first black female characters on American television to be portrayed as a strong and independent woman. Spencer's performance helped to break down stereotypes and pave the way for greater representation of African Americans in the media.

Dee was a complex and well-developed character. She was intelligent, ambitious, and had a strong sense of family. However, she also struggled with the pressures of being a black woman in America. Spencer's performance captured all of these different aspects of Dee's personality, and she created a character that was both relatable and inspiring.

Spencer's performance as Dee helped to make What's Happening!! one of the most popular sitcoms of the 1970s. The show was praised for its realistic portrayal of African-American life, and for its humor. Spencer's performance as Dee was a key part of the show's success.

Mabel King as Mama

Mabel King's portrayal of Mama on the tv show What's Happening!! was a groundbreaking role for the actress. Mama was one of the first black female characters on American television to be portrayed as a strong and independent woman. King's performance helped to break down stereotypes and pave the way for greater representation of African Americans in the media.

Mama was a complex and well-developed character. She was intelligent, ambitious, and had a strong sense of family. However, she also struggled with the pressures of being a black woman in America. King's performance captured all of these different aspects of Mama's personality, and she created a character that was both relatable and inspiring.

King's performance as Mama helped to make What's Happening!! one of the most popular sitcoms of the 1970s. The show was praised for its realistic portrayal of African-American life, and for its humor. King's performance as Mama was a key part of the show's success.

FAQs on "tv show what's happening cast"

This section aims to provide answers to commonly asked questions regarding the cast of the popular tv show "What's Happening!!".

Question 1: Who were the main cast members of "What's Happening!!"?


The main cast of "What's Happening!!" consisted of Fred Berry as Rerun, Ernest Thomas as Raj, Haywood Nelson as Dwayne, Shirley Hemphill as Shirley, Danielle Spencer as Dee, Mabel King as Mama, George Kirby as Sweet Daddy Williams, and Roscoe Orman as Big Earl.

Question 2: What was the significance of the "What's Happening!!" cast?


The cast of "What's Happening!!" played a pivotal role in the success of the show. Their portrayal of relatable and authentic characters helped break down stereotypes and pave the way for greater representation of African Americans in the media.

These are just a few of the frequently asked questions about the "tv show what's happening cast".

Conclusion on "tv show what's happening cast"

The cast of "What's Happening!!" played a pivotal role in the success of the show. Their portrayal of relatable and authentic characters helped break down stereotypes and pave the way for greater representation of African Americans in the media. Each cast member brought their own unique talents and experiences to the show, creating a dynamic and memorable ensemble.

The legacy of "What's Happening!!" continues to inspire and entertain audiences today. The show's positive portrayal of black family and community life remains an important contribution to American television.

Image gallery for What's Happening!! (TV Series) FilmAffinity

Image gallery for What's Happening!! (TV Series) FilmAffinity

Cooley High (1975) Coming Soon to Criterion Bluray Forum

Cooley High (1975) Coming Soon to Criterion Bluray Forum

Danielle Spencer from '70s What's Happening diagnosed with

Danielle Spencer from '70s What's Happening diagnosed with

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