D. Freeman, Sistas and The young and the restless The actress died. She was 66 years old.
Freeman died on Thursday after a battle with cancer, her family announced on Instagram.
“On behalf of her family, it is with great sadness that we share this update. Dee passed away peacefully on April 2, 2026 after a courageous and courageous battle with cancer,” their statement read. “Thank you to everyone who supported Dee during her battle. She was amazed to see how many people cared about her and were rooting for her. We know that Dee is up in heaven being the force of nature that she has always been. And now she is doing so with her angelic wings. Rest in peace, Dee.”
Born in Louisiana in 1959, Freeman joined the US Marine Corps after high school. After serving in the army, she began her career in the arts, starting in theater and then progressing to film and television. She recently starred in seasons nine and ten of the Tyler Perry series Sistaswhere she portrayed Valerie Barnes, the mother of KJ Smith Black’s character Andy Barnes.
Freeman lent her acting talents to three episodes of the television series the The young and the restless; 2016 episode of shameless; And the 2021 episode of NCIS: Los Angelesamong other things. She also led satirical comedies Beautiful chain From 2010-2015.
At the time of her death, Freeman was developing a new version of her one-man show Poison gunWhich was inspired by her family history.
“Dee was not only my client, but someone I truly respected and admired,” Desirae L. Benson, Freeman’s publicist, said in a statement. “She carried herself with a rare level of grace, strength and authenticity. Even in the face of stage 4 lung cancer, she showed up with courage and dignity. Dee had a quiet strength that demanded respect without ever having to demand it. Her legacy is not just in her work, but in the way she made people feel – and that will remain with us forever.”
Freeman is survived by her children, Amber and Shane; Her mother, brothers and sisters.
