Yvette Freeman
Born
Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1990–present

Yvette Freeman is an American actress, singer and director. Predominantly active as a stage actress, she made her Broadway debut in 1979 in the original production of Ain't Misbehavin'. She won the Obie Award for Distinguished Performance by an Actress for her portrayal of Dinah Washington in the 1998 Off-Broadway play Dinah Was. On television, she is best known for her roles as Haleh Adams in the NBC medical drama series ER, Evelyn Smalley in the TV series Working , and Irma Lerman in Orange Is the New Black.

Life and career

Freeman was born and raised in Wilmington, Delaware. She later moved to New York City to pursue a career in graphic design. There she turned to acting on stage productions, before appearing in The Wiz and Ain't Misbehavin'.[1] At the same time, she also worked as a singer in nightclubs and performed in cabaret.[1] In 1990, Freeman relocated to Los Angeles, and began appearing on television,[1] in shows like Tales from the Crypt, Knots Landing, and L.A. Law.

Freeman is best known for her role as Haleh Adams, a registered nurse, on the NBC medical drama series ER. She played the role from 1994 to the series finale in 2009, appearing in 184 episodes total. She was one of the longest-serving recurring characters on the show, having appeared in every season since 1994, with her first appearance in the two-hour pilot episode. From 1997 to 1999, she was also a regular on the NBC sitcom Working, while still appearing in ER. In 2002, during ER summer hiatus, she lost 120 pounds and now speaks as a positive advocate for weight loss.[2][3]

In 1999, Freeman released her debut album, A Tribute to Dinah Washington, after performing in the Off-Broadway production of Dinah Was[1][4] She won the Obie Award for Distinguished Performance by an Actress in 1998.[5] In 2012, she played Ma Rainey, the Mother of the Blues in the Huntington Theatre Company production of August Wilson's Ma Rainey's Black Bottom.[6]

In 2000s, Freeman had recurring roles on the daytime soap operas Days of Our Lives and The Bold and the Beautiful, and guest starred on Judging Amy, Boston Public, and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. In 2014, Freeman was cast as Irma, one of "The Golden Girls", in the Netflix comedy-drama series, Orange Is the New Black.[7] Along with cast, Freeman received Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series.[8]

Filmography

Film/Movie

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

Television

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 Episode: "My Left Feet" & "Jail Bait"
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"

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Jason Ankeny. "Yvette Freeman - Biography - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  2. ↑ "Waist Management". Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  3. ↑ "Health". NBC 10 Philadelphia. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  4. ↑ Leo Stanley. "Tribute to Dinah Washington - Yvette Freeman - Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  5. ↑ http://www.lortel.org/LLA_archive/index.cfm?search_by=people&first=Yvette&last=Freeman&middle=
  6. ↑ "Yvette Freeman Sings the Blues in Huntington's Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Opening March 14". Playbill. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  7. ↑ "8 Orange is the New Black Characters Who Ruled Season Two". pastemagazine.com. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  8. ↑ Michelle McCue. "BIRDMAN, DOWNTON ABBEY Big Winners At 21st Screen Actors Guild Awards". We Are Movie Geeks. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
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