Yvette Freeman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Yvette Freeman
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|---|---|
| Born |
Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.
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| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1979–present |
Yvette Freeman is an American actress, singer, and director. She is known for her roles in TV shows like ER, Working, and Orange Is the New Black. Yvette mostly acted on stage, making her first appearance on Broadway in 1979. This was in the original musical Ain't Misbehavin'. She also won an Obie Award for Distinguished Performance by an Actress in 1998 for playing Dinah Washington in the play Dinah Was.
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About Yvette Freeman's Life and Career
Yvette Freeman was born and grew up in Wilmington, Delaware. She later moved to New York City. There, she planned to work in graphic design. However, she soon started acting in plays. She appeared in famous shows like The Wiz and Ain't Misbehavin'. At the same time, she also sang in nightclubs and cabaret shows.
Moving to Los Angeles and TV Roles
In 1990, Yvette moved to Los Angeles. This is where she began acting on television. She appeared in popular shows such as Tales from the Crypt, Knots Landing, and L.A. Law.
Playing Nurse Haleh Adams in ER
Yvette Freeman is most famous for her role as Haleh Adams. Haleh was a registered nurse on the NBC medical drama series ER. Yvette played this character from 1994 until the show ended in 2009. She appeared in 184 episodes. This made her one of the longest-running characters on the show. She was in every season since 1994. Her first appearance was in the very first episode.
From 1997 to 1999, Yvette was also a regular on the NBC sitcom Working. She did this while still acting in ER. In 2002, during a break from ER, she lost a lot of weight. She now speaks out to encourage others about healthy weight loss.
Music and Stage Work
In 1999, Yvette Freeman released her first music album. It was called A Tribute to Dinah Washington. This came after she performed in the play Dinah Was. She won the Obie Award for Distinguished Performance by an Actress in 1998 for her role in that play. In 2012, she played Ma Rainey, known as the "Mother of the Blues." This was in the play Ma Rainey's Black Bottom.
Later TV Appearances
In the 2000s, Yvette had recurring roles on daytime soap operas. These included Days of Our Lives and The Bold and the Beautiful. She also made guest appearances on shows like Judging Amy, Boston Public, and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
In 2014, Yvette was cast as Irma. Irma was one of "The Golden Girls" in the Netflix comedy-drama series Orange Is the New Black. Yvette and the other cast members won a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series.
Yvette Freeman's Film Roles
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Switch | Mae the Maid | |
| Dead Again | Nurse | ||
| 1992 | Just My Imagination | Mrs. DeWitt | TV movie |
| 1995 | Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest | Samantha | |
| Angus | Science Teacher | ||
| 1996 | Norma Jean & Marilyn | Hazel Washington | TV movie |
| 2002 | The Adventures of Tom Thumb and Thumbelina | Leola (voice) | Video |
| Hung-Up | Aida | Short | |
| 2003 | Remember | - | Short |
| 2005 | Planting Melvin | Wanda Shepard | |
| 2009 | The Revenant | Scientological Nurse | |
| 2010 | Five Star Day | Social Worker | |
| 2011 | Hope | Librarian | Short |
| 2017 | The Last Word | Housekeeper | |
| 2020 | Blindfire | Gayle Hughes | |
| 2021 | The Starling | Mrs. Oberhoffer |
Yvette Freeman's Television Roles
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Alien Nation | Helen | Episode: "The Touch" |
| Ann Jillian | Gloria | Episode: "It's a Mall World After All" | |
| Dragnet | Witness | Episode: "The Torch" | |
| Doctor Doctor | Mrs. Cratchit | Episode: "Malpractice Makes Imperfect" | |
| Over My Dead Body | Nurse Hunter | Episode: "Carrie Christmas and a Nappie New Year" | |
| 1991 | Equal Justice | Clerk | Episode: "Courting Disaster" |
| Tales from the Crypt | Jury Forewoman | Episode: "The Trap" | |
| Step by Step | Doris | Episode: "Yo-Yo's Wedding" | |
| 1992 | Knots Landing | Gwen | Episode: "The Price" |
| 1992-93 | Down the Shore | The Woman/Sheriff | 2 episodes |
| 1993 | Camp Wilder | Teacher | Episode: "Career Day" |
| Life Goes On | Nurse #1 | Episode: "Bedfellows" | |
| Sisters | Nightmare Host #3 | Episode: "Sleepless in Winnetka" | |
| 1994 | Hangin' with Mr. Cooper | Feather | Episode: "Pros and Convicts" |
| L.A. Law | Anelda Hightower | Episode: "Finish Line" | |
| 1994-2009 | ER | Nurse Haleh Adams | Recurring cast |
| 1995 | The John Larroquette Show | Mrs. Wilson | Episode: "Night Moves" |
| 1996 | Living Single | Ms. Peabody | Episode: "The Engagement: Part 2" |
| 1997 | NYPD Blue | Sister Sun Ray | Episode: "Tom and Geri" |
| 1997-99 | Working | Evelyn Smalley | Main cast |
| 2000 | Judging Amy | Claire Reeves | Episode: "The Burden of Perspective" |
| 2000-01 | Boston Public | Gladys Crenshaw | Episodes: "Chapter Eight" and "Chapter Eleven" |
| 2001 | That's Life | Lawyer | Episode: "No Good Deed" |
| The Tick | Thelma | Episode: "The License" | |
| 2002 | Presidio Med | - | Episode: "Good Question" |
| 2007 | Saving Grace | Toby McKees | Episode: "This Is Way Too Normal for You" |
| 2008-10 | Days of Our Lives | Nurse Lesley | Regular Cast |
| 2010 | Pretty Little Liars | School Administrator | Episode: "The Perfect Storm" |
| 2009-12 | The Bold and the Beautiful | Dr. Lewis | Regular Cast |
| 2014 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Cynthia Hughes | Episode: "The Twin Paradox" |
| 2014-15 | Orange Is the New Black | Irma Lerman | Recurring cast: Season 2, guest: Season 3 |
| 2019 | A Black Lady Sketch Show | Denise Garrett | Episode: "Why Are Her Pies Wet, Lord?" |
| 2020 | Deputy | Mrs. Murphy | Episode: "Deputy Down" |
| Amazing Stories | Sterling's Grandma | Episode: "The Heat" | |
| 2023 | Will Trent | Bonnie | Episode: "Manhunt" |
