Former child actress Danielle Spencer has tragically passed away.
The TV star was 60 when she died after a battle with cancer. This follows some other heartbreaking news in the industry after anotherTV legend died earlier this week, followed by the death of a Blue Peter icon.
The sad news was confirmed by her friend and former co-star Haywood Nelson, who is best known for his role on What’s Happening!!, reports the Mirror.
In a heartfelt tribute posted on Instagram, Haywood, who played Dwayne in the sitcom, wrote: “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.
“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.”
Haywood subsequently revealed to TMZ that Danielle, who played Dee Thomas on the programme, passed away on Monday night at a Richmond, Virginia hospital, surrounded by her mother Cheryl and jazz musician brother Jeremy Pelt.
“She suffered for a very long time but did it with a great deal of courage,” he also revealed to The Hollywood Reporter.
Born in the Bronx, New York on June 24, 1965, she was cast as Dee Thomas in What’s Happening 11 years later.
In the series, she portrayed the cheeky younger sister.
The programme aired from 1976 to 1979. Nearly a decade later, the series was brought back in first-run syndication as What’s Happening Now!!
The programme ran from 1985 to 1988, with Danielle returning to play Dee, who had by then become a university-aged character.
On Twitter/X, fans rushed to share tributes following the devastating news. One user wrote: “Oh my heart. God Speed Danielle Spencer.
“I don’t know if there was a better child sitcom character than Dee from What’s Happening. Her delivery was sublime.”
Another posted: “Dee was savage! ! Remembering Danielle Spencer, who has died at 60.”
A third user commented: “The world of entertainment has lost another light! ! We speak your name #daniellespencer, may you rest in peace and power!!”.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
