'Sistas,' 'Young and the Restless' Actress Was 66
hollywoodreporter.com • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Dee Freeman, known for her roles in Tyler Perry’s Sistas and The Young and the Restless, passed away at age 66 after a battle with cancer, as announced by her family on April 2, 2026.
- Born in Louisiana in 1959, Freeman served in the United States Marine Corps before pursuing a career in theater, film, and television, including appearances on Shameless and NCIS: Los Angeles.
- She recently starred as Valerie Barnes in seasons nine and 10 of Sistas and led the satirical comedy Pretty the Series from 2010 to 2015.
- At the time of her death, Freeman was working on adapting her one-woman show Poison Gun into a novel, a project inspired by her family history.
- Freeman is survived by her children, Amber and Shane, as well as her mother, brothers, and sisters; her publicist praised her courage, grace, and lasting impact on those who knew her.
