Dee Freeman, the veteran actress whose career stretched from daytime television to cult comedies and crime dramas, has died at 66 following a battle with stage 4 lung cancer. Freeman died peacefully on April 2, according to a statement shared by her family the following day.
Best known for her work on The Young and the Restless and most recently on Tyler Perry’s Sistas, Freeman spent more than three decades building a résumé that touched nearly every corner of television.
In a message posted to Freeman’s Instagram account, her family said she fought cancer with remarkable determination until the end. “On behalf of her family, it is with deepest sadness that we share this update with you,” the statement read. “Dee passed away peacefully on April 2, 2026 after a brave and fearless fight with cancer.”
The family also thanked the fans, friends, and colleagues who supported her throughout her illness, saying the actress was deeply moved by the outpouring of encouragement.
According to People, before becoming a familiar face on television, Freeman served six years in the United States Marine Corps. That chapter of her life came long before her acting debut in a 1995 episode of the sitcom Coach.
From there, she steadily built a career that included appearances on Seinfeld, The X-Files, ER, Dexter, Shameless, and NCIS: Los Angeles. A lesser-known part of her career included leading the satirical series Pretty the Series from 2010 through 2015.
Freeman appeared on The Young and the Restless in both 1997 and 2009. More recently, she made her final screen appearance in January on Sistas, the hit drama created by Tyler Perry. Her last role before that came in a 2022 episode of Reasonable Doubt.
Freeman’s publicist, Desirae L. Benson, said the actress maintained her strength even after learning of her diagnosis. Benson described Freeman as “someone I truly respected and admired,” adding, “Even in the face of stage 4 lung cancer, she showed up with courage and dignity. Dee had a quiet power that commanded respect without ever needing to demand it.”
Freeman is survived by her two children, Amber and Shane.
