What's Happening!!: How old was Dwayne in the ABC sitcom? Details explored

ABC's popular sitcom What's Happening!! ran for three successful seasons before ending in 1979. Created by Eric Monte, this series is loosely inspired by the 1975 film Cooley High. The show explores the lives of three African American teenagers in 1970s Los Angeles. The main characters were Roger Raj Thomas, Freddy Rerun Stubbs, and Dwayne Nelson- the heart and soul of What's Happening!!. As high school students, they were between 16 and 18 years old. Interestingly, both Ernest Thomas, who played Roger, and Fred Berry, who played Freddy, were in their mid-20s when the series aired in 1976.

Among the cast, only Haywood Nelson was just 16 years old in 1976, which perfectly matched his on-screen character Dwayne's age range. Born on March 25, 1960, he entered the spotlight at the age of six. After numerous appearances in commercials, feature films, and guest-starring in a few series, he got his breakthrough role in the ABC series "What's Happening!!" at 16.

Soon, Nelson became a heartthrob and one of the first Black teen idols. His catchphrase, Hey, HEY, Hey! with a little squeak, gained popularity as well. In an interview on Pop Goes The Culture TV, Nelson explained how he used his catchphrase in the series. He said,

"I am gonna do what I did, and I'm gonna punch it up, and I changed the inflection on the hey hey hey. It was Hey HEY Hey and the crowd went wild"

Did you know Nelson also had a huge crush on Dee, played by Danielle Spencer? In an interview with ESSENCE.com via Huffpost, he revealed,

"No, not me, but I had a big crush on Dee. If it weren't for our age difference, it would be very dangerous and tempting waters. Dee was sharp and was a smart young girl."

Danielle Spencer passed away at the age of 60 on August 11, 2025, after battling cancer for years. Nelson took to Instagram to write a tribute post for the late actor.

Why Haywood Nelson's real age made Dwayne stand out in What's Happening!!?

Most sitcoms' teens were played by actors much older than their characters. However, What's Happening!! broke that pattern with Nelson's character Dwayne. Haywood Nelson was still a high school student when he took on Dwayne's role. The age match gave his performance a genuine spark.

He was cool, Roger was sharp, and Freddy was energetic. On screen, Dwayne was the perfect counterbalance to the other two- the sharp Roger and the lively Freddy. His effortless charm and laid-back persona made fans dub him a heartthrob and a teenage idol overnight.

At just 16 years old, Nelson wasn't just acting like a teenager - he was living it. Viewers related to his authenticity; they could see themselves in his stories, friendships, and even his awkward moments. Once What's Happening!! ended in 1979, he returned to his roles in the spin-off series as well. Decades later, that connection still holds strong. In a TV landscape filled with adults playing kids, Haywood Nelson was the real deal- and that's why What's Happening!! remains a classic sitcom worth rewatching.

How old is Haywood Nelson now?

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What's Happening!! Star Haywood Nelson turned 65 years old in March 2025. Having been in the industry for more than four decades, he has participated in several notable projects, including Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star, The Parkers, Evilspeak, Sanford and Son, and Grady, to name a few.

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