The entertainment world was shaken on August 11, 2025, when news broke that Danielle Spencer, the beloved child star who charmed America as Dee Thomas on What’s Happening!!, had passed away at 60. According to official statements from her family and representatives, Spencer succumbed to complications from gastric cancer, which ultimately led to cardiac arrest.
This heartbreaking conclusion came after more than a decade of serious health struggles that began when Spencer was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014. At that time, she underwent a preventative double mastectomy at VCU Massey Cancer Center. While she beat that initial cancer diagnosis, her body would face numerous other challenges in the years that followed.
The Devastating Final Illness
Danielle Spencer’s final battle began when she was diagnosed with gastric (stomach) cancer, an aggressive form of the disease unrelated to her previous breast cancer. According to family spokesperson Sandra Jones, the illness progressed rapidly in her final months. Despite aggressive treatment, the disease ultimately weakened her heart, leading to fatal cardiac arrest.
Danielle Spencer David has passed away at 60 from cancer.
Danielle Spencer appeared on “What’s Happening!!” at 11 years old as Dee Thomas, little sister of Roger Thomas.
After 12 years of acting, Danielle would go to college & become a Veterinarian.
Many prayers to her family! pic.twitter.com/6jH02cHpdy
— Southern FFA Family (@FFAFamily) August 12, 2025
This tragic development came after Spencer had already survived multiple life-threatening health crises. In 2018, she required emergency surgery for a brain bleed, a complication partly attributed to lingering effects from a horrific 1977 car accident that had left her with spinal cord injuries and temporary paralysis. Those close to Spencer often marveled at her resilience, with What’s Happening!! co-star Haywood Nelson calling her “the toughest person I’ve ever known.”
A Remarkable Life Beyond Acting
While millions remember Danielle Spencer as the sassy little sister who delivered the iconic line “Ooooh, I’m gonna tell Mama!” her greatest accomplishments came after leaving Hollywood. She earned a doctorate in veterinary medicine from Tuskegee University in 1993 and spent two decades as a practicing vet, first in Los Angeles and later in Richmond, Virginia, where she became a local TV personality offering pet care advice.
Spencer’s passion for animals was legendary. She often said veterinary medicine combined her love of science with her natural ability to care for creatures in need. In 2014, she made history as the first child star inducted into the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, an honor that left her both humbled and amazed.
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Even as her health declined, Spencer remained dedicated to her work and her community. Her final public appearance in early 2025 at a Richmond animal shelter fundraiser showed the same warmth and humor that made her a star nearly 50 years earlier. The legacy she leaves is one of perseverance, kindness, and quiet strength in the face of overwhelming challenges, a true inspiration long after her final heartbreaking battle.
