Veteran Hollywood actor, Dee Freeman has died at the age of 66 after battling lung cancer, her family has confirmed.
In a statement shared on her Instagram page on Friday, relatives said Freeman passed away peacefully on Thursday, 2 April 2026, describing her final months as a “brave and fearless” fight against the illness.
“On behalf of her family, it is with deepest sadness that we share this update.
“Dee passed away peacefully after a courageous battle with cancer. The love and support she received meant everything to her,” the statement read.
Freeman was best known for her extensive television career, including appearances on The Young and the Restless, where she played a nurse in 1997 before returning as a judge in 2009, and her more recent role as Valerie Barnes in seasons nine and ten of Sistas, created by Tyler Perry.
Her publicist, Desirae L Benson, paid tribute to her “beloved client,” calling Freeman “an extraordinary talent whose warmth, grace and authenticity touched everyone she worked with.”
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Benson added that the actor’s on-screen presence was “powerful and unforgettable.”
Born in Louisiana in 1959, Freeman served for six years in the United States (US) Marine Corps, attaining the rank of sergeant, before living in Japan where she worked as a radio disc jockey.
She later moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting, making her screen debut in 1995.
Over the following decades, Freeman built a steady career with guest roles across renowned US television, including The X-Files, ER, Six Feet Under, Dexter, Shameless and NCIS in Los Angeles.
In October 2025, she revealed she had been diagnosed with lung cancer and launched a GoFundMe campaign to help meet medical costs, sharing regular updates with fans about her treatment and determination to keep working.
Freeman is survived by her children, Amber and Shane.