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Denise Dowse
Born
Denise Yvonne Dowse

(1958-02-21)February 21, 1958
Died August 13, 2022(2022-08-13) (aged 64)
Education Norfolk State University (BA)
Occupation Actress, director
Years active 1988–2022

Denise Yvonne Dowse (February 21, 1958 – August 13, 2022) was an American actress and director. She was best known for her roles as Mrs. Yvonne Teasley in the television series Beverly Hills, 90210 (1991–2000), Judge Rebecca Damsen in The Guardian (2001–2004), and Dr. Rhonda Pine in Insecure.

Her film roles included Olivia Biggs in Bio-Dome (1996), Sky Marshal Meru in Starship Troopers (1997), Judge Constance Mullen in A Civil Action (1998), Marlene Andre in Ray, Principal Garrison in Coach Carter (2005), and Flora in The Call (2013).

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.

Filmography

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
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 Marsha 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 Laverne 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 Elenore 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"
2000 Moesha Hattie Episode: "Secrets & Lies"
The West Wing Nurse #1 Uncredited
Episode: "In the Shadow of Two Gunmen: Part 1"
Grown Ups Gloria 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 ... 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

Video games

Year Title Role Notes
2002 Rocket Power: Beach Bandits Officer Shirley, Female Shoobie
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