Dee Freeman, known for her roles on The Young and the Restless and Tyler Perry’s Sistas, has died at the age of 66 after a “brave” battle with lung cancer. Freeman passed away peacefully on April 2, 2026, her family confirmed in an emotional statement shared on Instagram.
Born in Louisiana in 1959, Freeman served six years in the U.S. Marine Corps, rising to the rank of Sergeant, before moving abroad to Japan to work as a radio DJ. Her acting career began in 1995 with a minor role on Coach, and she went on to appear in guest roles on shows including Party of Five, 3rd Rock From the Sun, Seinfeld, The X-Files, Six Feet Under, ER, Boston Public, Ghost Whisperer, Dexter, Shameless, and NCIS: Los Angeles.
Freeman’s work on The Young and the Restless included appearances as a nurse in 1997 and a judge in 2009. Most recently, she portrayed Valerie Barnes in seasons nine and ten of Tyler Perry’s Sistas. She also had a horror film titled Don’t Move in the works and was adapting her one-woman show Poison Gun into a novel.
Her family and publicist Desirae L. Benson reflected on Freeman’s legacy, praising her warmth, authenticity, and resilience. Freeman’s GoFundMe campaign, launched to help cover medical expenses, had nearly reached its $18,000 goal by the time of her passing. She is survived by her children, Amber and Shane, her ex-husband, and her beloved exotic pets, which included a bearded dragon, ball pythons, a Pacman frog, and a white rat.
Throughout her battle with cancer, Freeman remained determined and positive, sharing on social media that she was channeling the spirit and strength of her favorite boxer, Muhammad Ali. Her legacy as a talented actress, devoted mother, and courageous spirit will be remembered by fans and colleagues alike.#newsafro_
