Danielle Spencer, child star of ‘What’s Happening,’ dies at 60

Danielle Spencer, the child actress beloved by a generation for the role of Dee Thomas in the sitcom “What’s Happening!!” , died Monday. She was 60.

Spencer died following a years-long battle with breast cancer, according to her co-star Haywood Nelson. She died at a hospital in Richmond, Va. , surrounded by family, Nelson told The Hollywood Reporter.

“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 in an Instagram post . “We have lost a daughter, sister, family member, ‘What’s Happening’ cast member, veterinarian, animal rights proponent and healer, and cancer heroine.”

Spencer charmed audiences as the youngest member of the “What’s Happening!!” cast , delivering the sp