Award winner, of the 1998 Obie for "Dinah Was," Yvette Freeman is known to millions for her acting in the NBC acclaimed series ER - as the no-nonsense Nurse Haleh Adams, and for two years on Working with Fred Savage. Freeman released her first CD "A Tribute To Dinah Washington," in 1999 and she is working on an R&B recording. She has written, directed and produced several short films including Remember, a film about Alzheimer's, The Blessing Way, through the American Film Institute, and several films for Instantfilms.tv.
Born in Wilmington, Delaware, Yvette, who is one of seven children, developed her love of performing from her father, jazz pianist Charles Freeman. After graduating from the University of Delaware, with a major in Art and Theater, Yvette's life became the theater. Her first major performance was in the Broadway musical sensation "Ain't Misbehavin'," which utilized her tremendous singing voice, and led to roles on stage, television and feature films.
In addition to starring in the Broadway and The First National, Paris and International, companies of "Ain't Misbehavin'," Freeman's other stage credits include the Los Angeles production of "Elegies for Angel Punks and Raging Queens" as Bertha; Sister Hurbert in the Boston company of "Nunsense;" Queenie in the St. Louis Muny production of "Show Boat;" the Sacramento production of "Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" as Jewel; and at Portland Stage Theater as Bernice in "Member of the Wedding." National and international touring company productions include "The Wiz," "Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope," "Voices, Inc.," and "Mademoiselle Rose" in Monte Carlo and China.
Freeman was in Hollywood less than two years when she was cast for the role of Nurse Haleh Adams for the pilot of ER. Since then, she has been guest-star in numerous television series including Nip/Tuck, Presidio Med, The Tick, That's Life, Boston Public, Judging Amy, NYPD Blue, The John Larroquette Show, Living Single, and Sisters. Her feature film credits include roles in "Switch," "Dead Again," "Children of the Corn III," and "Angus Bethune." She was also seen in the HBO movie "Norma and Marilyn."
In 2002, Yvette recreated her role, a hundred pounds lighter, in Dinah Was for L.A. Theatre Works as part of "The Play's The Thing." The play "Dinah Was," is based on the life of legendary jazz singer Dinah Washington, and won Yvette an Obie at the new Gramercy Theatre, off-Broadway. The same play in 1996, in Los Angeles, garnered her "Best Actress in a Musical," from the NAACP, Ovation Awards, and LA Weekly. Freeman originally premiered the play at the famed Williamstown Theater in Massachusetts, in 1995.
Yvette Freeman is married to jazz pianist Lanny Hartley, who is musical director for "Dinah Was," and arranger/producer for "A Tribute To Dinah Washington." Yvette and Lanny live in Los Angeles with their two cats, Barkley and Sam.
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