Denise Dowse obit

Denise Dowse, Star Of Beverly Hills, 90210 And Insecure, Has Died At 64

 She was not on the list.

Veteran actor Denise Dowse, who is best known for her roles as vice principal Yvonne Teasley on "Beverley Hills 90210," scientist Dr. Olivia Biggs in "Bio-Dome," and Judge Rebecca Damsen on "The Guardian," died on August 13, 2022. More recently, Dowse is probably most recognizable as Dr. Rhonda Pine in the award-winning HBO dramedy "Insecure" from Issa Rae and Larry Wilmore.

Dowse's sister Tracey kept fans informed about the 64-year-old's condition when she was admitted to the hospital after contracting a virulent form of meningitis that resulted in a coma. A few days later, an update was released via Instagram breaking the news of the actor's passing:

    It is with a very heavy heart that I inform everyone that my sister, Denise Dowse has gone forward to meet our family in eternal life. Denise Yvonne Dowse was the most amazing sister, a consummate, illustrious actress, mentor and director. She was my very best friend and final family member.

Born on February 21, 1958 in Honolulu, Hawaii, Denise Dowse started acting in 1989 after graduating with a degree from Norfolk State University. Her first role on television was Angela Quartermane in an episode of "Almost There." From there, she remained a staple of the small screen for years to come with roles on some of the biggest shows in television history like "Full House," "Seinfeld," "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "ER," and "House." She also replaced CCH Pounder as Officer Shirley on the Nickelodeon cartoon "Rocket Power" after the first season.

Dowse also appeared in a number of films in between her TV gigs. After acting opposite Pauly Shore and Stephen Baldwin in "Bio-Dome," she went on to take roles as Sky Marshall Meru in "Starship Troopers," Tyrone's mom in "Requiem for a Dream," and Marlene Andre in "Ray."

As well as appearing in front of the camera, Denise Dowse directed a number of projects like "Recorded In Hollywood," a stage musical about pioneer rock n' roll radio host and record store owner John Dolphin, and "Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story," which celebrated its world premiere on April 19, 2022 at the 30th Pan African Film and Arts Festival in Los Angeles. The film about gospel singer and activist Mahalia Jackson starred Grammy winner Ledisi in the title role and Columbus Short as Dr. Martin Luther King, along with Janet Hubert, Keith David, and Corbin Bleu.

Dowse is also remembered for the impact she left on the industry in between takes. On the post announcing her death, her "Beverly Hills 90210" co-star Ian Ziering said:

    My scenes with Denise will always be remembered with the utmost in respect for her talent, and fondness for the loving soul she was. Some of my heartiest off camera laughs were between she and I hammering out the discipline her Mrs. Teasley would dish out to my Steve Sanders.

On the same post, "Insecure" star and co-creator Issa Rae also shared her condolences, saying, "Sending you much love. Ms. Denise will be so missed and her impact will be felt for generations. I am forever thankful for her guidance."

Whether she was playing a judge, a doctor, a mom, or an angel, Denise Dowse was a loving and protective force in both the fictional world and the real world. We at /Film send our condolences to her family and loved ones.

 

Film

Year       Title       Role       Notes

1990      Coldfire                Channing            

1992      Sneakers              Bank Teller         

Out for Blood     Neighborhood Woman Credited as Denise Y. Dowse

1993      Merchant of Evil               Nurse #1             

1994      Helicopter           Malik's Mother Short film

1995      Theodore Rex    Voice Performer (voice)               

1996      Bio-Dome            Olivia Biggs        

1997      Starship Troopers             Sky Marshal Meru           

1998      Pleasantville       Health Teacher

A Civil Action      Judge Constance Mullen              

1999      K-911    Dr. Perkins, DVM             

2000      Requiem for a Dream     Tyrone's Mother              

2001      Dr. Dolittle 2       Secretary            

2002      Book of Love: The Definitive Reason Why Men Are Dogs                 Mom    

2003      Rats       Matilda                

2004      The Seat Filler    Derrick's Mom  

Eulogy   Judge   

Ray         Marlene Andre

2005      Coach Carter      Principal Garrison            

Guess Who         Lisa       

2007      Reign Over Me Psychiatric Hospital Therapist    

Her Best Move Lisa       

2010      Anger Has a Secret           Sarah    

2011      Fly Away              Susan    Credited as Denise Y. Dowse

2012      The Longer Day of Happiness      Lydia Jones        

2013      The Call                Flora     

2017      Please Stand By                 Doris the Bus Driver       

Like Father          Olivia     Short film

By His Stripes     Ruth

2018      A Stone Cold Christmas Deaconess         

2019      Loners   Clara Maloy       

2020      Grey Streets       Aunt Suzanna    

Fatale    Valeria Tyler      

Celeste's Dream                Dr. Soji Spark     Short film

2022      A Cloud So High                Detective Trina McWilliams         Post-production

Television

Year       Title       Role       Notes

1989      Almost There!    Angela Quartermane      Episode: "Miss Shelley B."

ALF         FBI #4    Credited as Denise Y. Dowse

Episode: "Wanted Dead or Alive"

1990      Beverly Hills, 90210         Professor Harriet Strathmore      Episode: "The 17 Year Itch"

1991      Jake and the Fatman       Maggie Day         Episode: "Come Along with Me"

Roc         Dr. Worthy          Credited as Denise Y. Dowse

Episodes: "Rock-A-Bye Baby: Parts 1 & 2"

1991–2000          Beverly Hills, 90210         Vice-Principal Yvonne Teasley     23 episodes

1992      Seinfeld                Receptionist       Episode: "The Wallet"

Bodies of Evidence          Kim's Mother     Episode: "Afternoon Delights"

Roc         Dr. Russell           Episode: "The Artificial Insemination Story"

1993      Full House           Mrs. Jacobs         Episode: "Be True to Your Pre-School"

Thea                      Episode: "A Christmas Story"

1993–1994          California Dreams            Vice Principal McBride   Recurring cast

1994      The Enemy Within           Dr. Jarvis              Television movie

Murphy Brown Woman #2          Episode: "Brown vs. the Board of Education"

Seinfeld                Mother                 Episode: "The Couch"

1995      See Jane Run                      Television movie

Sketch Artist II: Hands That See Dispatcher

Vanishing Son    Trailer Park Neighbor     Episode: "Sweet Sixteen"

Kissing Miranda                Cristianne            Television movie

1996      Touched by an Angel      Judge Caldwell Episode: "Flesh and Blood"

Men Behaving Badly       Mrs. Carlson       Episode: "Drunken Proposal"

1997      Killing Mr. Griffin              Detective Pruitt                 Television movie

Tracey Takes On...            Arthell Episode: "Race Relations"

Ink          Mrs. Punter        Episode: "Logan's Run"

Buffy the Vampire Slayer              Ms. Miller            Episode: "Out of Mind, Out of Sight"

Built to Last        Sylvia Watkins   8 episodes

Chicago Hope     Doris Harper       Episode: "On Golden Pons"

1998      NewsRadio         Adoption Agent                Episode: "Look Who's Talking"

Step by Step       Judge Martin      Episode: "And Justice for Some"

ER           Mrs. Lysell           Episode: "Day for Knight"

Any Day Now     Councilwoman Rene Broussard Episode: "No Comment"

Sister, Sister       Alease   Episode: "The Domino Effect"

Party of Five       Nora      Episode: "Gifts"

1999      Promised Land Mrs. Groves        Episode: "What's in a Word"

Recess Additional Voice               Episode: "The Candidate"

Rugrats                 Sheila Swann (voice)       Episode: "Share and Share a Spike/Tommy for Mayor"

2000      Moesha                Hattie    Episode: "Secrets & Lies"

The West Wing Nurse #1              Uncredited

Episode: "In the Shadow of Two Gunmen: Part 1"

Grown Ups                          Episode: "New Job"

2000–2004          Rocket Power    Officer Shirley (voice)     7 episodes

2001      Becker Janet Katz            Episode: "The Trouble with Harry"

The Practice       Caroline               Episode: "The Thin Line"

The Drew Carey Show    Doctor #2            Episode: "Drew and the Baby"

Girlfriends           Emily Griffin       Episode: "The Burning Vagina Monologues"

2001–2004          The Guardian     Judge Rebecca Damsen 32 episodes

2002      Philly     Sondra Herman                 Episode: "Mojo Rising"

What About Your Friends: Weekend Getaway     Mona    Television movie

Judging Amy       Ms. Shepard       Episode: "Lost in the System"

Without a Trace                Mrs. Ray               Episode: "Little Big Man"

2003      Dragnet                Juanita Hendrucks           3 episodes

Girlfriends           Lucyruth              Episode: "Inherit the Lynn"

2004      Nip/Tuck              Cecily Sutherland             Episode: "Joel Gideon"

Everwood            Laura Hoover     Episode: "The Birds and the Batteries"

2004–2006          All of Us               Counselor / Dr. Shapiro 4 episodes

2005      Inconceivable    Alice Godchaux Episode: "Balls in Your Court"

Threshold            Dr. Margaret Johnson    Episode: "Progeny"

2005–2006          Charmed              Angel of Destiny               Episodes: "Vaya Con Leos", "Kill Billie: Vol. 2" & "Forever Charmed"

2006      The Bernie Mac Show     Doctor Episode: "Exercise in Fertility: Part 2"

2007      Gilmore Girls      Judge    Episode: "To Whom It May Concern"

Law & Order       Judge Nora Glover           Episode: "Good Faith"

Shark     Judge Jane Briar                3 episodes

2008      The Mentalist    Detective Carla Mulvey Episode: "Ladies in Red"

2009      Saving Grace      Mrs. Williams     Episode: "Take Me Somewhere, Earl"

Monk    Samantha Austin              Episode: "Mr. Monk and the Dog"

2010      House   Glenda Episode: "Moving the Chains"

Class      Patty Allen          Television movie

2011      Bones    Dr. Sherry Bannon           Episode: "The Change in the Game"

Reed Between the Lines                Ms. Ellis                Episode: "Let's Talk About Boundaries"

2011–2012          Criminal Minds Yvonne Burns     Episodes: "Big Sea" and "The Company"

2013      Monday Mornings           Mrs. Fisher          Episode: "Family Ties"

Rizzoli & Isles     Judge    Episode: "Dance with the Devil"

2014      Hungry Ann        Episode: "Interviews"

Laugh Gym          Agnes    Television movie

2015      Secrets and Lies                Elaine Williams 9 episodes

2016      Castle    Judge Gloria Wollcott     Episode: "Witness for the Prosecution"

Murder in the First          Rainelle James   3 episodes

2017–2018          Imposters            Auntie Colleen / Agent Cook        10 episodes

2017–2020          Insecure               Dr. Rhonda Pine                6 episodes

2018      The X-Files          Dr. Babsi Russel                Episode: "Plus One"

Mr. Mercedes   Judge Helfrick    Episode: "Fade to Blue"

2019      9-1-1     David's Wife       Episode: "Chimney Begins"

Good Trouble     Naomi / Secretary            4 episodes

New Amsterdam              Alfreda Watson                 Episode: "Righteous Right Hand"

The Resident      Carol Austin        Episodes: "Choice Words" and "Peking Duck Day"

2019–2021          Snowfall               Mrs. Mosley       Episode: "Confessions" and "All the Way Down"

2020      Grey's Anatomy                Lorraine Simms Episode: "Help Me Through the Night"

Stumptown        Mrs. Hofman      Episodes: "Til Dex Do Us Part" and "At All Costs: The Conrad Costas Chronicles"

Pandemically Single         Donna Sawyer   Unknown episodes

2021      Three Days          Will's Mom         Episode: "Pilot"

The Wedding Games      Susan Clearwater             Television movie

Bronzeville          Emma / Sarah Davis        2 episodes