• Danielle Spencer, famous for her role as Dee on "What's Happening!!," has died at age 60.
• She passed away after a prolonged battle with cancer, confirmed by a family spokesperson.
• Spencer was involved in a severe car accident during the show's first season, leading to long-term health issues.
• Throughout her life, she became a veterinarian and an advocate for animal rights.
• Her former co-star, Haywood Nelson, paid tribute, describing her as a "brilliant, loving, positive warrior."

Danielle Spencer, best known for portraying the wisecracking little sister Dee Thomas on the 1970s sitcom "What's Happening!!," has died at age 60. She passed away on Monday in a Richmond, Virginia hospital after a years-long battle with cancer, as confirmed by family spokesperson Sandra Jones, according to CBS News, NPR, and HuffPost.

Throughout her role on the show, Spencer played a crucial character that became an iconic figure in Black television history. Her catchphrase “Ooh, I’m gonna tell mama” was widely recognized, and the show ran on ABC from 1976 to 1979, focusing on the lives of Black teenagers in Los Angeles, according to CBS News and HuffPost.

Spencer faced significant challenges early in her life, including a tragic car accident at age 12 that resulted in a coma and the loss of her stepfather. This incident led to numerous health problems, including spinal and neurological issues that required multiple surgeries. Additionally, she had been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014, which she bravely fought, undergoing a double mastectomy, according to NPR and HuffPost.

In her later life, Spencer became a veterinarian and an active advocate for animal rights, earning a doctorate in veterinary medicine from Tuskegee University in 1993. Despite her health struggles, she maintained a presence in the entertainment industry, making appearances, including a role as a veterinarian in the 1997 film "As Good as it Gets," according to CBS News and NPR.

Her passing has deeply affected her former co-stars and fans alike, with Haywood Nelson, who portrayed Dwayne on "What's Happening!!," sharing a heartfelt tribute describing her as “our brilliant, loving, positive warrior.” He noted, “We have lost a daughter, sister, family member... Our Shero," reflecting the love and respect she garnered throughout her life, according to CBS News, NPR, and HuffPost.