Yvette Freeman is a talented American actress, singer, and director who has made a significant impact in the entertainment industry. Born and raised in Wilmington, Delaware, Freeman pursued a career in graphic design in New York City before turning to acting on stage productions. Her early performances included appearances in The Wiz and Ain't Misbehavin', as well as singing in nightclubs and performing in cabaret.
In 1990, Freeman relocated to Los Angeles and began appearing on television, with roles in shows such as Tales from the Crypt, Knots Landing, and L.A. Law. However, it was her role as Haleh Adams, a registered nurse, on the NBC medical drama series ER that brought her widespread recognition. Freeman played the role from 1994 to the series finale in 2009, appearing in a total of 184 episodes. She was one of the longest-serving recurring characters on the show, having appeared in every season since 1994.
In addition to her work on ER, Freeman also had a recurring role on the NBC sitcom Working, and appeared in numerous other television shows, including Days of Our Lives, The Bold and the Beautiful, Judging Amy, Boston Public, and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. In 2002, Freeman lost 120 pounds and has since become a positive advocate for weight loss.
Freeman has also had a successful career in music, releasing her debut album, A Tribute to Dinah Washington, in 1999. She won the Obie Award for Distinguished Performance by an Actress in 1998 for her portrayal of Dinah Washington in the Off-Broadway production of Dinah Was. In 2012, Freeman played Ma Rainey, the Mother of the Blues, in the Huntington Theatre Company production of August Wilson's Ma Rainey's Black Bottom.
In recent years, Freeman has appeared in the Netflix comedy-drama series Orange Is the New Black, playing the role of Irma, one of "The Golden Girls". Along with the cast, Freeman received a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series.
