Dee Freeman, A Famous Actress In The Young and the Restless And Sistas, Has Passed Away At 66 After Diagnosed With Lung Cancer

Dee Freeman, Famous Actress from The Young and the Restless and Sistas, Dies at 66 Following Long Fight with Lung Cancer

Dee Freeman, the gifted actress whose face many fans remember from The Young and the Restless and Sistas, has died at 66 years of age. Freeman’s representative, Desirae L. Benson, disclosed that the actress breathed her last after a tough fight with stage 4 lung cancer. The sorrowful news was communicated by Freeman’s family through a poignant post on Instagram on Friday, April 3rd, where they also expressed their sadness and thanked fans and friends for their continuous support and prayers.

The family’s message read, “On behalf of her family, we deeply regret to inform you that Dee has passed away. She died peacefully on April 2, after a courageous and fearless fight with cancer.” They also expressed their gratitude to everyone who supported Dee, “She was simply amazed by the number of people who cared for her and were rooting for her.” The family reminisced about Dee’s spirited nature by calling her “a force of nature” who even in death, through her spirit, continues to motivate others. “We believe 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.”

Dee Freeman will be remembered as a talented, strong, and kind actress cherished by fans and colleagues alike.

Dee Freeman’s publicist, Desirae L. Benson, talked about her as “someone I deeply respected and admired, ” focusing on the actress’s exceptional fortitude even when she was suffering through stage 4 lung cancer. Benson acknowledged Freeman’s bravery and her dignity stating, “Despite her stage 4 lung cancer, she came with courage and dignity. Dee possessed a soft power that could command respect without even having to ask for it.” Also, she mentioned that besides the work as an actress, Freeman made an impact on people that will be remembered forever: “Her legacy is not only in what she did but also in how she affected the people around her and that is going to stay with us forever.”

Freeman spent six years in the U.S. Marine Corps before acting. She got her first screen role in 1995 playing a part in an episode of the ABC sitcom Coach which was the start of a well-respected and unforgettable television career.

Actress Dee Rich and a Varied Career and Two Children She Leaves

Lousiana native Dee Freeman’s acting career was rich and varied throughout decades. She was cast in three episodes of the soap opera The Young and the Restless in 1997 and 2009 and she was a lead in the satirical parody show Pretty the Series from 2010 to 2015. Her television credits are so broad that her list of appearances along with other hit TV shows includes Seinfeld, Rude Awakening, ER, The Hughleys, The X-Files, Dexter, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Do Us Part, Shameless, and NCIS: Los Angeles.

Freeman’s last acting was a guest appearance in the Tyler Perry-directed series Sistas in January 2026, and her one before that was a 2022 episode of Reasonable Doubt. She leaves a deep imprint through her art, and as well as her children, Amber and Shane.