Danielle Spencer, best known for her role as the sharp-tongued Dee Thomas on the 1970s ABC sitcom What’s Happening!!, passed away on Monday at the age of 60, following a long and courageous battle with cancer. Her death was confirmed by longtime co-star Haywood Nelson, who posted a heartfelt tribute on social media. #DanielleSpencer burst into the spotlight in 1976 when she was cast as Dee, the witty and spirited younger sister of Raj Thomas, in What’s Happening!!, which aired until 1979. She reprised the role in the sequel What’s Happening Now!! (1985–1988). In 1977, during filming, she and her stepfather, Tim Pelt, were involved in a tragic car accident that left Spencer in a three-week coma and claimed Pelt’s life . Spencer sustained serious injuries, including broken limbs and pelvis, and later developed spinal stenosis, which at one point left her partially paralyzed before extensive rehabilitation helped her regain mobility. Her post-Hollywood path was equally compelling. Encouraged by her late stepfather, Spencer pursued a veterinary career—studying at UC Davis and later at Tuskegee University—earning her veterinary degree in 1996 . She dedicated her life to veterinary medicine and animal rights advocacy and occasionally returned to acting, notably portraying a veterinarian in As Good as It Gets (1997) and in the short film Peter Rabbit and the Crucifix (2001). Though she has left this world, Danielle Spencer’s spirit lives on—in the hearts of fans, the animals she cared for, and the story of a life lived bravely. - @ykwmedia