'Beverly Hills, 90210' and 'Insecure' actress Denise Dowse dies aged 64
- Home
- Shows
14 August 2022 | 11. 07
READING: 3 minutes
She died of a virulent form of meningitis
US actress Denise Dowse, the intense television performer of Vice Principal Yvonne Teasley in “Beverly Hills, 90210 “, judge Rebecca Damsen in” The Guardian “and therapist Rhonda Pine in” Insecure “, died at the age of 64 years. The disappearance was announced on Saturday 13 August on her Instagram account from older sister Tracey Dowse: “She was the most incredible sister, a distinguished actress. She was my best friend and the last member of the my family”.
On August 7, Tracey wrote on Instagram, as reported by “The Hollywood Reporter”, that her younger sister was hospitalized in hospital and was in a coma due to a “virulent form of meningitis”.
On the big screen Denise Dowse stood out for the role of Ray Charles’ manager, Marlene André, in “Ray” ( 2004), with Oscar winner Jamie Foxx, and played a ‘ other principal, based on a real-life educator from Richmond High School (California), in “Coach Carter” (2005), with Samuel L. Jackson. The actress had stated that these were among her favorite roles, as well as her role as Yvonne Burns, Derek Morgan’s aunt in the TV series “Criminal Minds” (2011 – 12).
Dowse played the stern but compassionate vice principal of West Beverly Hills High, Yvonne Teasley, in 20 episodes of “Beverly Hills, 90210 “, for all 10 years ( 1990 – 2000) of the tv series. He then did 32 appearances as Judge Rebecca Damsen in the TV series “The Guardian” (2001 – 2004), and six appearances in the role by Molly’s therapist (Yvonne Orji) in the final three seasons of “Insecure” (2017 – 20).
Dowse was also a recurring character on the TV series “Built to Last” in 1997, in “Secrets and Lies” in 2015 – 16 and in “Imposters” in 2017 – 18. She also appeared in episodes of “Roc”, “Seinfeld”, “Touched by an Angel”, “Party of Five”, “Charmed”, “Law & Order”, “Bones”, “Rizzoli & Isles”, “Grey’s Anatomy “,” ER – Doctors on the front line “,” Snowfall “. His film curriculum includes interpretations in “The lords of the scam” (1992), “Profession: Lawyer. Mission: Lawyer” (1992), “Tonto + Tonto” (1996), “Starship Troopers – Space Infantry” (1997), “Pleasantville” (1998), “Requiem for a Dream” (2000) and Doctor Dolittle 2 “(2001).
For 18 years Dowse taught acting and directed plays at the Amazing Grace Conservatory, a school of performing arts for students aged 8 to 18 years in downtown Los Angeles. In 2016 directed the musical “Recorded” at the Kirk Douglas Theater in Culver City, for she then her directing “Daughters of the Mock” for The Negro Ensemble Company in New York a year later.
Denise Yvonne Dowse was born in Honolulu on 21 February 1958. Her father was a career officer in the United States Navy and her family moved practically every two years. In 1976, while attending the WT Woodson High School in Fairfax, Virginia auditioned to join the traveling theater group Up With People and simultaneously applied for admission to the United States Naval Academy (that was the first year women were admitted), which, however, he did not follow up. After graduating from 1980 at Norfolk State University and having lived in Germany with her parents for more than seven years – she also worked in the theater while abroad – had moved to Los Angeles when she was 30 years. She then found work as an extra in Hollywood, starting her television and film career.
