Danielle Spencer, Beloved Star of "What's Happening!!," Passes Away at 60

Danielle Spencer, best known for her role as Dee Thomas on the iconic 1970s sitcom What's Happening!!, has died at the age of 60. Fox News Digital confirmed her passing on Monday at a hospital in Richmond, Virginia.

Spencer had faced significant health challenges in recent years. According to The Hollywood Reporter, she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014 and underwent a double mastectomy. In 2018, she required emergency brain surgery due to bleeding. A GoFundMe campaign was launched to assist with her medical expenses during her illness.

Her What's Happening!! co-star Haywood Nelson shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, honoring her resilience and legacy.

"Dr. Dee, our brilliant, loving, positive, pragmatic warrior, has finally found her release from the clutches of this world," Nelson wrote. "We celebrate Danielle Spencer and her contributions as we regret to inform her departure after a long battle with cancer. We have lost a daughter, sister, family member, What's Happening cast member, veterinarian, animal rights advocate, and cancer heroine. Our Shero. Danielle is loved. She will be missed in this form and forever embraced."

Actress Holly Robinson Peete also mourned Spencer's passing on social media, recalling their friendship since childhood. "Oh, this is just gutting," Peete wrote on X. "I’m so sad to hear about the loss of this beautiful woman who I met in 1977 when we were just 13."

Spencer became a fan favorite as Dee, the quick-witted younger sister of Roger "Raj" Thomas (Ernest Thomas), often delivering the memorable line, "Ooooh, I’m gonna tell Mama!" After her acting career, she pursued her passion for animals, earning her veterinary degree in 1993.

"She had a great love of animals—she was like Betty White in that way," Nelson remarked.

In a 1985 interview, Spencer reflected on her career shift: "I’ve always had a knack for caring for animals and been interested in chemistry, bacteriology, and the body."

Years later, in a 2016 interview, she shared her philosophy on life: "You really have to live life for you at that minute. Be lighthearted and happy while you’re here, because you never know when that time is going to end."

Spencer’s warmth, talent, and strength left an indelible mark on both Hollywood and the veterinary field. She is survived by loved ones and countless fans who cherished her work on and off-screen.

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What's Happening!! originally aired from 1976 to 1979, with Spencer reprising her role in the 1980s sequel, What's Happening Now!! Her legacy endures as one of television’s most beloved child stars.