Dee Freeman, a veteran actress, writer, and U.S. Marine Corps veteran best known for her roles on Sistas and The Young and the Restless, has died at 66.
Freeman passed away peacefully on April 2, 2026, after battling stage 4 lung cancer. Her family confirmed the news in a heartfelt Instagram post shared the following day.
Appeared in Seinfeld and Dexter
Born on June 6, 1959, in Louisiana, Freeman’s path to Hollywood was far from typical. After graduating high school, she joined the U.S. Marine Corps — a decision she once said began “on a dare,” but ultimately became a defining part of her life.
She served for six years, crediting the Marines with shaping her discipline, resilience, and sense of purpose.
After leaving the military, Freeman pursued the arts, building an impressive stage career with more than 80 theater productions. Known for her emotional depth and commanding presence, she later transitioned to television and film, working steadily in Hollywood for over two decades. Her credits include Seinfeld, ER, The X-Files, Dexter, Shameless, and NCIS: Los Angeles. She also appeared on The Young and the Restless and starred in the satirical web series Pretty.’
In recent years, she earned renewed attention for her role as Valerie Barnes on BET’s Sistas, appearing in Seasons 9 and 10. She had been invited back for Season 11.
“It blew her away to know…”
At the time of her passing, Freeman was still creating. She had been adapting her one‑woman stage show, Poison Gun, into a novel inspired by her family’s history — a testament to her lifelong dedication to storytelling.
Publicist Desirae L. Benson honored Freeman’s strength and character in a tribute:
“Dee wasn’t just my client — she was someone I truly respected and admired. She carried herself with a rare level of grace, strength, and authenticity. Even while facing stage 4 lung cancer, she showed up with courage and dignity. Dee had a quiet power that commanded respect without ever asking for it. Her legacy lives not only in her work, but in how she made people feel — and that will stay with us forever.”
Her family said she died after a long battle with lung cancer.
“Dee passed away peacefully on April 2, after a brave and fearless fight with cancer,” their statement read. “Thank you to everyone who supported Dee during her battle. It blew her away to know how many people cared about her and were pulling for her. We know Dee is up there in heaven, being the force of nature she always was. Now she’s doing it with her angel wings on. Rest in peace, Dee.”
Beyond her career, Freeman was a devoted mother to her two children, Amber and Shane, whom she often described as her greatest achievement.
Even in her final days, she stayed true to her spirit. Her son Shane recalled that when asked how she was feeling, she simply replied, “Can’t complain. On the other side doesn’t do you any good.”
Freeman lived life on her own terms, often saying that acting was her greatest passion — a passion she carried with her until the end.
