Denise Dowse

Early life Denise Yvonne Dowse was born on February 21, 1958, in Honolulu, Hawaii, the daughter of a naval officer. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Norfolk State University.

Career

Dowse started acting in 1989, playing Angela Quartermane in an episode of the television series Almost There.

From 1989, she appeared in numerous TV series, such as ALF, Full House, Murphy Brown, Seinfeld, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, ER, Charmed, Shark, The Mentalist, Monk, and House.

Dowse appeared in the 2005 comedy film Guess Who, featuring Bernie Mac and Ashton Kutcher.

Dowse became best known for her role of Yvonne Teasley on Beverly Hills, 90210, after appearing as Judge Rebecca Damsen on The Guardian from 2001 through 2004. From 1993 to 1994, she appeared as a recurring character known as Vice Principal McBride in the television series California Dreams.

From 2000 to 2004, she provided the voice of Officer Shirley in the Nickelodeon animated series Rocket Power for the last three seasons of the show's run, replacing CCH Pounder, who voiced the character in the first season.

In 2020, she appeared as Valeria in the thriller film Fatale, featuring Hilary Swank, Michael Ealy, and Mike Colter.

Dowse directed the drama film Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story, featuring Ledisi, Corbin Bleu, Keith David, Vanessa Williams, and Columbus Short. The film premiered in April 2022, at the 30th Pan African Film and Arts Festival in Los Angeles.

Death Dowse fell into a coma in August 2022, in connection with meningitis. She died on August 13, 2022, at the age of 64.

An endowed scholarship fund to benefit theater and theater technology students at W.T. Woodson High School (now C.G. Woodson) in Fairfax, Virginia was funded by Dowse's high school friends and family.

Filmography Film

Television YearTitleRoleNotes1989 Almost There! Angela Quartermane Episode: "Miss Shelley B." ALF FBI #4 Credited as Denise Y. DowseEpisode: "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. DowseEpisode: "Rock-A-Bye Baby" 1991–2000 Beverly Hills, 90210 Vice Principal Yvonne Teasley 23 episodes1992 SeinfeldMarsha 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" TheaLaverne Episode: "A Christmas Story" 1993–1994 California Dreams Vice Principal McBride Recurring cast1994 The Enemy Within Dr. Jarvis Television film Murphy Brown Woman #2 Episode: "Brown vs. the Board of Education" Seinfeld Elenore Episode: "The Couch"1995 See Jane RunTelevision film Sketch Artist II: Hands That See Dispatcher Vanishing Son Trailer Park Neighbor Episode: "Sweet Sixteen" Kissing Miranda Cristianne Television film1996 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 film 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"RugratsSheila SwannVoice, episode: "Tommy for Mayor"