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Dee Freeman, a cherished presence on television screens for many years, with roles ranging from The Young and the Restless to Sistas, has passed away at the age of 66.
Her publicist, Desirae L. Benson, confirmed that Freeman succumbed to stage 4 lung cancer. The heartbreaking news was also shared by her family in a heartfelt Instagram announcement on Friday, April 3.
“With profound sadness, we share this update on behalf of her family. Dee passed away peacefully on April 2, following a courageous and fearless battle with cancer,” read the family’s poignant message, accompanying a photograph of the beloved actress.
The family expressed gratitude to those who stood by Freeman during her illness. “The outpouring of love and support blew her away. She was deeply touched by how many people cared about her,” they wrote. “We know Dee is now in heaven, continuing to be the remarkable force she always was, now with her angel wings. Rest in peace, Dee.”
Benson also paid tribute to Freeman, lauding her as “someone I truly respected and admired,” and highlighting the incredible resilience she displayed in the face of her illness.
“Even in the face of stage 4 lung cancer, she showed up with courage and dignity,” Benson wrote. “Dee had a quiet power that commanded respect without ever needing to demand it.
“Her legacy is not just in her work, but in how she made people feel — and that will stay with us forever,” she concluded.
Before launching her acting career, Freeman served six years in the United States Marine Corps — a chapter that underscored the discipline and determination she would later bring to the screen. She made her onscreen debut in a 1995 episode of the ABC sitcom Coach, per Deadline.
Over the years, Freeman built an extensive TV résumé, with appearances on Seinfeld, ER, The X-Files, Dexter, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Shameless, and NCIS: Los Angeles, among others. She also appeared in The Young and the Restless in 1997 and 2009, and led the satirical parody show Pretty the Series from 2010 to 2015.
More recently, she appeared in Tyler Perry’s Sistas in January, with her last prior credit coming in a 2022 episode of Reasonable Doubt.
Freeman is survived by her two children, Amber and Shane.