Danielle Spencer, the former child star who gained fame as the wisecracking ‘Dee Thomas’ on the 1970s sitcom “What’s Happening!!,” has died aged 60.

Spencer died late Monday at hospital after a long battle with cancer, her former co-star on the popular sitcom, Haywood Nelson, who played ‘Dwayne Nelson’, announced on Instagram.

“Dr Dee, our brilliant, loving, positive, pragmatic warrior, without fail, has finally found her release from the clutches of this world and a body. We celebrate Danielle Spencer and her contributions as we regret to inform her departure and transition from a long battle with cancer,” Nelson wrote.

“We have lost a daughter, sister, family member, “What’s Happening” cast member, veterinarian animal rights proponent and healer, and cancer heroine. Our Shero. Danielle is loved. She will be missed in this form and forever embraced,” he added.

Spencer was born on June 24, 1965 in Trenton, New Jersey, and was raised in the Bronx, New York.
She was first a stage actor, but is best known for her role as Dee in the groundbreaking ‘What’s Happening!!’, which aired on ABC from 1976 to 1979.

The sitcom, inspired by the film ‘Cooley High’, was centred around a trio of black teens in Watts.
It also featured Ernest Thomas, Fred Berry, Mabel King and Shirley Hemphill. Spencer portrayed the nosey and smart talking younger sister to Thomas’ Roger Thomas.