Young And The Restless star Dee Freeman dead at 66 after 'brave' battle with cancer

Dee Freeman has passed away at the age of 66 on Thursday, April 2 following a 'brave' battle with lung cancer. 

The late star's death was confirmed by her loved ones as they shared an emotional statement to her Instagram page on Friday. 

Freeman was known for various roles over the span of her career such as appearing in episodes of The Young And The Restless as well as Tyler Perry's Sistas. 

'On behalf of her family, it is with deepest sadness that we share this update with you,' they began. 'Dee passed away peacefully on April 2, 2026 after a brave and fearless fight with cancer. 

'Thank you to everyone who supported Dee during her battle. It blew her away to know how many people cared about her and were pulling for her.'

Her family added that they 'know Dee is up there in heaven being the force of nature she always was. Now she's doing it with her angel wings on. Rest in peace, Dee.' 

Her publicist Desirae L. Benson also shared a statement to Instagram to reflect on her 'beloved client' and said she was 'heartbroken' over the news of Freeman's passing. 

'Dee was truly a gem - an extraordinary talent whose warmth, grace, and authenticity touched everyone who had the honor of knowing and working with her.'

Benson continued, 'She fought a courageous and unwavering battle against cancer, and while our hearts are heavy, we find comfort in knowing she is no longer suffering.'

The actress's publicist also wrote about her 'rich and enduring legacy' in the industry and added 'her presence on screen was both powerful and unforgettable.'

Benson added that the star 'will be remembered for her kindness, her strength, and the light she carried into every room. She leaves behind a legacy of resilience, artistry, and love that will continue to inspire.

'I extend my deepest condolences to her family, friends, colleagues, and all who were touched by her incredible spirit.'

Freeman was born in the state of Louisiana in 1959 and after graduating high school, she entered the U.S. Marine Corps for six years and became a Sergeant. 

After her service, the actress resided abroad in Japan where she worked at a radio station as a disc jockey. 

Her professional acting career kicked off when she moved to Los Angeles - with her first acting credit being in 1995 when she landed a minor role in an episode of Coach, per her official IMDB page. 

She continued to take on guest roles in other shows throughout the 90s such as Party Of Five, 3rd Rock From The Sun and Seinfeld.   

In 1997, Freeman was cast as a nurse in an episode of The Young And The Restless before later returning to the soap opera in 2009 for two episodes as a judge. 

Her career continued in the 2000s as she appeared in other projects including The X-Files, Six Feet Under, ER, Boston Public, Ghost Whisperer and Dexter. 

The actress starred in an episode of Shameless as well as NCIS: Los Angeles. 

Most recently, Freeman played the character of Valerie Barnes in season nine and 10 of Tyler Perry's Sistas. 

Season 10 of the series premiered earlier this year in January. 

She also had an upcoming horror movie in the works called Don't Move - which had also cast Lyndsy Fonseca, Hunter King and Tom Cavanagh. 

Before her passing, Freeman had been adapting her one-woman show Poison Gun into a novel. 

The production was 'based on my childhood in Louisiana, my grandparents' murder, and the subsequent investigation,' she wrote in a description last year on Instagram. 

In October 2025, Freeman announced on social media that she had been diagnosed with lung cancer. 

She also launched a GoFundMe page at the time to help cover the cost of 'the whopping medical expenses.' 

'I'm fighting this with not only western medicine but alternative medicine as well. Whether your donation is big or small, every cent helps,' she wrote in an Instagram post. 

'WHERE ARE MY CASTING DIRECTORS or LOOP GROUPS who ha[ve] supported me through the years? I am available for your one or two liners. Sistah gotta make that medical insurance!' 

The star added that her favorite boxer is Muhammad Ali and expressed that she was 'channeling his spirit and strength.

'I'm about to put on my boxing gloves and knock this cancer out. I thank you for being in my corner to help me do it.' 

Freeman shared the same message to the GoFundMe - which had nearly reached its goal of $18,000 at the time of her death. 

The late actress is survived by her children Amber and Shane, ex-husband and exotic animals. 

According to her official website, Freeman had owned animals such as a bearded dragon, ball python snakes, a white rat and a Pacman frog.