Dee Freeman, “The Younger and the Stressed” and “ER ”actress, dies at 66 after lung most cancers analysis

Dee Freeman, a personality actress who appeared on exhibits like The Young and the Restless and ER, has died. She was 66.

The actress' publicist, Desirae L. Benson, confirmed the information to Leisure Weekly on Saturday. Freeman's household paid tribute to the actress in an Instagram publish on Friday.

"On behalf of her household, it’s with deepest disappointment that we share this replace with you," the publish learn. "Dee handed away peacefully on April 2, 2026, after a courageous and fearless combat with most cancers. Thanks to everybody who supported Dee throughout her battle. It blew her away to know the way many individuals cared about her and had been pulling for her. We all know Dee is up there in heaven being the drive of nature she all the time was. Now she's doing it along with her angel wings on. Relaxation in peace, Dee."

Freeman appeared onThe Younger and the Stressed as a nurse in a 1997 episode and once more as a nurse in two episodes in 2009. She additionally acted in 24 episodes of the comedy present Fairly the Sequence between 2010 and 2015. She most just lately appeared within the Tyler Perry present Sistas in January.

Born in Louisiana in 1959, Freeman joined the Marines earlier than changing into an actress. She made her display debut in a 1995 episode of the sitcom Coach and appeared on exhibits like Social gathering of 5 and third Rock from the Solar the next 12 months. Later within the Nineties, she had roles in episodes of Seinfeld, Caroline within the Metropolis, Out of the blue Susan, Kenan & Kel, The Gregory Hines Present, Silk Stalkings, and Impolite Awakenings. She additionally landed elements in motion pictures like Purple Meat, starring Lara Flynn Boyle and The Landlady, starring Talia Shire.

Within the 2000s, Freeman acted on exhibits like The X-Recordsdata, Six Toes Below, The Protect, Bones, Dexter, Boston Public, and Chilly Case. She portrayed Dr. Lutz on two episodes of ER in 2002. Her film credit within the aughts included My Child's Daddy, Reservations, and Freezer Burn.

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Freeman later appeared on NCIS Los Angeles, Shameless, Brothers & Sisters, and Affordable Doubt. Her final credit score was for Tyler Perry's current BET sequence Sistas, wherein she portrayed Valerie Barnes, the mom of KJ Smith Black's Andi.

A veteran stage actress with greater than 80 productions beneath her belt, Freeman starred in a one-woman present, Poison Gun, impressed by her household historical past. On the time of her demise, she was engaged on adapting Poison Gun right into a novel.

"Dee wasn’t simply my shopper — she was somebody I actually revered and admired," Benson stated in a press release shared with Leisure Weekly. "She carried herself with a degree of grace, power, and authenticity that’s uncommon. Even within the face of stage 4 lung most cancers, she confirmed up with braveness and dignity. Dee had a quiet energy that commanded respect with out ever needing to demand it. Her legacy isn’t just in her work, however in how she made folks really feel — and that may stick with us eternally."

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Freeman is survived by her two kids, Amber and Shane; her mom, Leona; her brothers James, Lamar, Bryant, and Fred; and her sisters Dorthey and Linda.

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