Child star Danielle Spencer, best known for her role on the ABC sitcom “What’s Happening!!” in the 1970s, has died at 60. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014 but recovered and later faced a prolonged battle with the illness again.
Spencer got her start in acting at just 11 years old and became the first black female child to star regularly in a TV series. Her time on “What’s Happening!!” earned her recognition, including an exhibit at the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
After her sitcom run, Spencer pursued a career in veterinary science and became a veterinarian in 1996. She served the Richmond, Virginia area until her death on August 11, following a long battle with cancer.
Co-star Haywood Nelson remembered Spencer as “a brilliant, loving, positive, pragmatic warrior” who will be deeply missed. He wrote on Instagram that Spencer’s contributions to animal rights and cancer advocacy would live on, saying she was a “heroine” and “loved” by all who knew her.
Source: https://eu.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2025/08/12/danielle-spencer-whats-hapenning-dead/85628099007