Dee Freeman, a respected actress, writer, and former U.S. Marine Corps member known for her roles in Sistas and The Young and the Restless, has died at 66. She “passed away peacefully on April 2, after a brave and fearless fight with cancer,” following a battle with stage 4 lung cancer. Her family shared their gratitude, saying, “Thank you to everyone who supported Dee during her battle… it blew her away to know how many people cared.”

Born June 6, 1959, in Louisiana, Freeman’s journey was unconventional. She joined the Marine Corps “on a dare,” but the experience shaped her discipline and resilience during six years of service. Afterward, she pursued acting, building a strong theater career with over 80 stage productions before transitioning into television and film.

Freeman appeared in popular shows like Seinfeld, ER, The X-Files, Dexter, Shameless, and NCIS: Los Angeles. More recently, she gained attention as Valerie Barnes on Sistas, appearing in Seasons 9 and 10, and was invited to return for Season 11—showing her lasting impact on audiences.

Even during her illness, Freeman remained creatively active, working on adapting her stage show Poison Gun into a novel. Her publicist described her as someone who “carried herself with a level of grace, strength, and authenticity that is rare,” adding, “Even in the face of stage 4 lung cancer, she showed up with courage and dignity.”

A devoted mother to Amber and Shane, Freeman valued family above all. Her son recalled her mindset with the words, “Can’t complain. On the other side doesn’t do you any good.” Remembered for her quiet strength and warmth, her legacy lives on not only through her work, but through how she made people feel.