Danielle Spencer, who charmed television audiences as the sassy Dee Thomas on the 1970s sitcom “What’s Happening!!,” has died following a lengthy battle with cancer. She was 60.

Her former co-star Haywood Nelson, who played Dwayne Clemens Nelson on the show, announced Spencer’s death Tuesday on Instagram . Spencer died on Aug. 11

“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. “We celebrate Danielle Spencer and her contributions as we regret to inform her departure and transition from a long battle with cancer.”

Spencer portrayed Dee Thomas, the younger sister of the Thomas family, on “What’s Happening!!,” which aired on ABC from 1976 to 1979. The series was loosely bas

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