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Danielle Spencer, who played charming little sister Dee in the Seventies sitcom What’s Happening!!, died on Aug. 11. The former child actress who later pursued a career in veterinary care was 60.
Spencer’s death was confirmed via Instagram by Haywood Nelson, who starred as Dwayne Clemens Nelson in the series. “Dr. Dee, our brilliant, loving, positive, pragmatic warrior, without fail, has finally found her release from the clutches of this world and a body,” Nelson shared. “We celebrate Danielle Spencer and her contributions as we regret to inform her departure and transition from a long battle with cancer.”
Spencer was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014, according to her official website. Despite being declared cancer-free following a double mastectomy, she continued to navigate medical complications in recent years. In 2018, a representative for the actress launched a GoFundMe to cover costs related to an emergency brain surgery.
“Exactly 42 years to the date of her major car accident in 1976 resulting in the untimely death of her stepfather, actor Tim Pelt and leaving her in a coma for three weeks, a broken leg, arm and pelvis, Dr. Danielle Spencer started experiencing massive debilitating headaches,” the GoFundMe listing reads. “After going back and forth to the doctor for medicine, the headaches persisted until last week when she became unconscious. These headaches left her unresponsive and caused her to almost succumb to her illness. With quick action from expert doctors, they did emergency brain surgery removing a bleeding hematoma that formed due to the car accident 42 years ago.”
Spencer’s role on What’s Happening!! came to an end when the series was cancelled in 1979, though she returned as a recurring character in the revival series What’s Happening Now!! in the Eighties. In 1993, Spencer earned a doctoral degree in Veterinary Medicine from Tuskegee University Veterinary School in Alabama. In 2016, the Smithsonian Institute honored Spencer as the first child star on a television sitcom to be inducted into its museum.
“We have lost a daughter, sister, family member, ‘What’s Happening’ cast member, veterinarian animal rights proponent and healer, and cancer heroine. Our Shero,” Nelson continued. “Danielle is loved. She will be missed in this form and forever embraced.”
Nelson, along with Ernest Lee Thomas, who played Dee’s older brother Raj on the series, is the only living original cast member fromWhat’s Happening!!.
