Cassidy Freeman

Cassidy Freeman is an American actress and musician. She is known for her roles as Tess Mercer in The CW's superhero drama Smallville, Amber Gemstone in the HBO series The Righteous Gemstones, Sage in the series The Vampire Diaries, and Cady Longmire in the A&E/Netflix modern western Longmire.

Early life and education

Freeman was born in Chicago, Illinois. Her father comes from a Russian Jewish family, while her mother is Catholic of English ancestry. She is the youngest of four children, with three brothers. Her brother, Crispin Freeman is a voice actor, while her brother Clark is an actor and musician.

Career

Acting

Freeman has appeared in several shorts, feature films and television series. Freeman played the leading role of Veronica Sharpe in the 2006 short film Razor Sharp, which won "Best Action Film" at the 2007 Comic-Con International Independent Film Festival. She also starred in the 2010 thriller film YellowBrickRoad.
In September 2008, she began starring in The CW's Superman-inspired drama Smallville where she played Tess Mercer after the departure of Michael Rosenbaum's Lex Luthor and continued in this role until the show ended in May 2011.
On January 13, 2012, Freeman was confirmed to have a brief three-episode run as Sage, in the third season of The CW's fantasy drama The Vampire Diaries. Between 2012 and 2017, Freeman starred as Cady Longmire in the A&E and Netflix crime drama Longmire.
In 2016, she played the Russian spy Eva Azarova in a two-episode crossover in NCIS and NCIS: New Orleans; she returned as Azarova in two 2017 episodes of NCIS: New Orleans. She co-starred alongside Will Patton in The Forever Purge, the fifth film in The Purge franchise. From 2019 to 2025, Freeman starred as Amber Gemstone in the HBO series ''The Righteous Gemstones.''

Music

Freeman, her brother Clark Freeman, and Andy Mitton formed a band called The Real D'Coy, in which Freeman sings and plays the piano.

Allegations against Jeremy Piven

In November 2017, Freeman accused actor Jeremy Piven of predatory behavior, saying in an Instagram post "I know what you did and attempted to do to me when I was far too young." She came forward with her allegations after actress Ariane Bellamar accused Piven of sexual harassment.

Philanthropy

While a cast member of Smallville, The CW wrote that Freeman was an active member of Heal the Bay, a Santa Monica, California, environmental group. The network also wrote that Freeman volunteered with the Virginia Avenue Project, a Santa Monica nonprofit that uses the performing arts in a free, after-school program.