Danielle Spencer, child star from ‘What's Happening!!', dead at 60
Spencer's death was announced by her co-star Haywood Nelson on Tuesday.
'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 wrote on Instagram.
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3 Danielle Spencer.
©Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection
3 Danielle Spencer.
©ABC/Courtesy Everett Collection
'We celebrate Danielle Spencer and her contributions as we regret to inform her departure and transition from a long battle with cancer,' his statement continued. 'We have lost a daughter, sister, family member, 'What's Happening' cast member, veterinarian animal rights proponent and healer, and cancer heroine. Our Shero.'
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Nelson wrote in conclusion, 'Danielle is loved. She will be missed in this form and forever embraced.'
3 The cast of 'What's Happening!!'
Courtesy Everett Collection
Spencer played Dee Thomas, the sassy younger sister of the Thomas family, on 'What's Happening!!', which aired on ABC from 1976 to 1979. The show was loosely based on the 1975 film 'Cooley High.'
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