Yvette Freeman

Yvette Freeman

Freeman in the play Ma Rainey's Black Bottom in 2012
Born (1957-10-01) October 1, 1957
Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.
Occupation Actress
Years active 1990–present

Yvette Freeman (born October 1, 1957) is an American actress, singer and director. She is best known for her role as Haleh Adams in the NBC medical drama series, ER.

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 of The Wiz and Ain't Misbehavin'.[1] In 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 series finale in 2009, appearing on the recurring basis in 184 episodes total. She is 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 also was 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 the 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

Year Title Role Notes
1990 Alien Nation Helen Episode: "The Touch"
1990 Ann Jillian Gloria Episode: "It's a Mall World After All"
1990 Dragnet Witness Episode: "The Torch"
1990 Doctor Doctor Mrs. Cratchit Episode: "Malpractice Makes Imperfect"
1991 Equal Justice Clerk Episode: "Courting Disaster"
1991 Switch Mae the Maid
1991 Tales from the Crypt Jury Forewoman Episode: "The Trap"
1991 Dead Again Nurse
1991 Step by Step Doris Episode: "Yo-Yo's Wedding"
1992 Knots Landing Gwen Episode: "Yo-Yo's Wedding"
1992 Just My Imagination Mrs. DeWitt Television film
1993 Camp Wilder Teacher Episode: "Career Day"
1993 Life Goes On Nurse Episode: "Bedfellows"
1993 Down the Shore Sheriff Episode: "Bedfellows"
1993 Sisters Nightmare Host Episode: "Sleepless in Winnetka"
1994 Hangin' with Mr. Cooper Feather Episode: "Pros and Convicts"
1994 L.A. Law Anelda Hightower Episode: "Finish Line"
1995 Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest Samantha
1995 Angus Science Teacher
1995 The John Larroquette Show Mrs. Wilson Episode: "Night Moves"
1996 Norma Jean & Marilyn Hazel Washington Television film
1996 Living Single Ms. Peabody Episode: "The Engagement: Part 2"
1997-1999 Working Evelyn Smalley Series regular, 39 episodes
2000 Judging Amy Claire Reeves Episode: "The Burden of Perspective"
2000-2001 Boston Public Gladys Crenshaw Episodes: "Chapter Eight" and "Chapter Eleven"
2001 That's Life Lawyer Episode: "No Good Deed"
2001 The Tick Thelma Episode: "The License"
2002 The Adventures of Tom Thumb and Thumbelina Leola Voice
2002 Presidio Med Episode: "Good Question"
2005 Planting Melvin Wanda Shepard
2007 Saving Grace Toby McKees Episode: "This Is Way Too Normal for You"
1994-2009 ER Nurse Haleh Adams Recurring role, 184 episodes
2009 The Revenant Scientological Nurse
2010 Five Star Day Social Worker
2008-2010 Days of Our Lives Nurse Lesley Recurring role
2010 Pretty Little Liars School Administrator Episode: "The Perfect Storm"
2009-2012 The Bold and the Beautiful Dr. Lewis Recurring role
2014 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Cynthia Hughes Episode: "The Twin Paradox"
2014-2015 Orange Is the New Black Irma Recurring role, 9 episodes

References

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