Co-stars and more are paying their respects to actress Denise Dowse, who passed away Aug. 13 after contracting meningitis. Dowse is best known for her roles on Beverly Hills, 90210 and Insecure. She is also known for roles on Rugrats, Judging Amy, Girlfriends, Rocket Power, Nip/Tuck, The Guardian, Charmed, All of Us, Shark, Secrets and Lies and Good Trouble, among others.
“So heartbreaking to say Denise Dowse passed away,” Ian Ziering wrote. Ziering played opposite Dowse on Beverly Hills, 90210, in which she played the vice principal, Mrs. Yvonne Teasley. Ziering wrote about his scenes with Dowse, saying she “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 Mrs. Teasley would dish out to my [character] Steve Sanders.”
90210 alum Tori Spelling wrote, “This gorgeous inside and out human left us too soon. We all love you so much. Forever Mrs T[easley].”
Other stars wrote their condolences under the official announcement of Dowse’s death on Instagram. Tracee Ellis Ross wrote, “[O]hhhh how I loved you. And oh you were soooooo loved! Thank you for all that you shared with me from Girlfriends to blackish!”
Jason E. Kelley wrote how Dowse was his “first professional stage director and coach,” adding, “The wisdom and standard she demanded provided the foundations of my theatrical craft.”
“We enjoyed bragging about our Virginia roots and she encouraged me to trust my instincts,” he continued. “Over the years we’d bump into each other on the boards (occasionally at The Cork for a drink) and most recently at The Road Theatre. It felt like a reunion. She is and was a Mother Queen to many and her spirit is sown into the community.”
Issa Rae, who worked with Dowse on Insecure, wrote, “Ms. Denise will be so missed and her impact will be felt for generations. I am forever thankful for her guidance.”
JB Tabena also wrote about his experiences with Dowse, particularly how one of his first jobs in the industry was with Dowse.
“One of my first jobs ever I was extremely fortunate to work opposite Denise and she was just so talented and lovely and made me feel so welcomed. A beautiful soul that will be missed,” he wrote.
