What's Happening!! (1976) featured a cast of 172 tracked actors. Of these, 41 (34%) are still alive today and 80 have passed away. The oldest surviving cast member is Alan Oppenheimer, age 96. This TV series starred Ernest Lee Thomas and Haywood Nelson.
34% still with us· verified cast24% of full cast · incl. 50 unverified
Survivorship
Cast Reunion Index: 34% still living
Avg. Age at Death: 75.5 yrs
Deaths by Year
1979
1990
2000
2010
2020
2026
Cast172 members
| Person | Character | Status | DOB | Age | DOD | Age in 1976 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Ernest Lee Thomas Roger 'Raj' Thomas | Roger 'Raj' Thomas | Living | 26/03/1950 | 76 | — | 26 |
 Haywood Nelson Dwayne Clemens Nelson | Dwayne Clemens Nelson | Living | 25/03/1960 | 66 | — | 16 |
 Fred Berry Frederick 'Freddie/Rerun' Stubbs | Frederick 'Freddie/Rerun' Stubbs | Deceased | 19/03/1951 | 52 | 21/10/2003 | 25 |
 Danielle Spencer Dee Thomas | Dee Thomas | Deceased | 24/06/1965 | 60 | 11/08/2025 | 11 |
 Mabel King Mabel Thomas | Mabel Thomas | Deceased | 25/12/1932 | 66 | 09/11/1999 | 44 |
 Shirley Hemphill Shirley Wilson | Shirley Wilson | Deceased | 01/07/1947 | 52 | 10/12/1999 | 29 |
John Welsh Earl 'Big Earl' Barnett | Earl 'Big Earl' Barnett | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
David Hollander Earl 'Little Earl' Barnett Jr. | Earl 'Little Earl' Barnett Jr. | Living | 07/08/1969 | 57 | — | 7 |
 Debbi Morgan Diane Harris | Diane Harris | Living | 20/09/1951 | 75 | — | 25 |
 Thalmus Rasulala Bill Thomas | Bill Thomas | Deceased | 15/11/1939 | 51 | 09/10/1991 | 37 |
 Fritzi Burr Miss Collins | Miss Collins | Deceased | 31/05/1924 | 78 | 17/01/2003 | 52 |
| Rob | Living | 04/07/1945 | 81 | — | 31 | |
Bryan O'Dell Marvin | Marvin | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
Leland Smith The Snake | The Snake | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
 James A. Watson, Jr Ray Cleamons | Ray Cleamons | Living | 21/11/1945 | 80 | — | 31 |
Lila Perry Betty Wilson | Betty Wilson | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
Tracee Lyles Mrs. Wilson | Mrs. Wilson | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
 Joe Morton Manager | Manager | Living | 18/10/1947 | 78 | — | 29 |
| Kid | Living | 14/07/1952 | 74 | — | 24 | |
Bobby Griffin Frankie Taylor | Frankie Taylor | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
 Don Sherman Sammy Persky | Sammy Persky | Deceased | 01/03/1932 | 80 | 15/06/2012 | 44 |
 Jack Knight Owner | Owner | Deceased | 26/02/1938 | 87 | 29/06/2025 | 38 |
 Taurean Blacque Mr. Donovan | Mr. Donovan | Deceased | 10/05/1941 | 81 | 21/07/2022 | 35 |
 Rosanne Katon Darlene | Darlene | Living | 05/02/1954 | 72 | — | 22 |
 Dick Van Patten Mr. Claxton | Mr. Claxton | Deceased | 09/12/1928 | 86 | 23/06/2015 | 48 |
 David White Mr. Reynolds | Mr. Reynolds | Deceased | 04/04/1916 | 74 | 27/11/1990 | 60 |
Rani DuBois Cindy | Cindy | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
 Robbie Rist John Stevens | John Stevens | Living | 04/04/1964 | 62 | — | 12 |
 Allison McKay Mrs. Stevens | Mrs. Stevens | Deceased | 27/04/1936 | 90 | — | 40 |
Cinque Attucks Dewey | Dewey | Deceased | — | — | — | — |
 Janet MacLachlan Mrs. Cavendish | Mrs. Cavendish | Deceased | 27/08/1933 | 77 | 11/10/2010 | 43 |
 Rosalind Cash Loretta | Loretta | Deceased | 31/12/1938 | 56 | 31/10/1995 | 38 |
 Ta-Tanisha Patrice Williams | Patrice Williams | Living | 15/01/1953 | 73 | — | 23 |
 Frank Aletter Daniel Turner | Daniel Turner | Deceased | 14/01/1926 | 83 | 13/05/2009 | 50 |
 Alice Ghostley Mrs. Turner | Mrs. Turner | Deceased | 14/08/1923 | 84 | 21/09/2007 | 53 |
 Danny Wells Bert Frederick | Bert Frederick | Deceased | 07/04/1941 | 72 | 28/11/2013 | 35 |
 Jay Gerber Poker Player | Poker Player | Deceased | — | — | — | — |
 Paul Lichtman Poker Player | Poker Player | Living | 05/06/1938 | 88 | — | 38 |
 Warren Berlinger Ben Martin | Ben Martin | Deceased | 31/08/1937 | 83 | 02/12/2020 | 39 |
Sheila Rogers Madge | Madge | Deceased | 30/10/1924 | 78 | 07/06/2003 | 52 |
 Allen Williams Charlie | Charlie | Deceased | 31/12/1944 | 74 | 26/05/2019 | 32 |
| Wanda | Unverified | — | — | — | — | |
 Mel Stewart Spike Gibbs | Spike Gibbs | Deceased | 19/09/1929 | 72 | 24/02/2002 | 47 |
 David Downing Mr. Barnes | Mr. Barnes | Deceased | 21/07/1943 | 74 | 01/11/2017 | 33 |
 Fred Pinkard Mr. Grayson | Mr. Grayson | Deceased | 25/01/1920 | 84 | 02/08/2004 | 56 |
Lark Hackshaw Velma | Velma | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
 Teddy Wilson Al Dunbar | Al Dunbar | Deceased | 10/12/1943 | 47 | 21/07/1991 | 33 |
 James Wheaton Mr. Simmons | Mr. Simmons | Deceased | 11/01/1924 | 78 | 09/06/2002 | 52 |
 Raymond Vitte Gene | Gene | Deceased | 20/11/1949 | 33 | 20/02/1983 | 27 |
 Ren Woods Brenda | Brenda | Living | 01/01/1958 | 68 | — | 18 |
