Denise Dowse died aged 64

Denise Dowse, the Beverly Hills actress, 90210, died at age 64 after a battle with viral meningitis. According to various reports, Dowse was in a coma last week due to medical complications. Dowse’s sister Tracey posted on Instagram at the time to reveal the official condition of the Honolulu, Hawaii resident. Tracey, the sister of the actress, announced her death on her Instagram account. She stated in the post:

“It is with great sadness that I inform everyone that my sister, Denise Dowse, has passed away to meet our family in eternal life.”

She went on to say:

“Denise Yvonne Dowse was an incredible sister, an accomplished and distinguished actress, mentor and director. She was my last family member and best friend. Denise adored you all. I know that Mom watches over us with all her love. I respectfully request privacy and your continued prayers. I’ll give details about her Celebration of Life later. I’ll keep you informed.”

Denise Dowse

The cause of death of Denise Dowse

Denise Dowse was hospitalized earlier this month due to problems with viral meningitis, which left her in a coma, as her sister noted in an Instagram post. This seems to be the most likely reason for the death of the actress. However, neither her sister nor other relatives have publicly confirmed this. The most common form of infection, viral meningitis, can cause inflammation in certain parts of the central nervous system. While the infection is usually cleared by the body’s immune system without the need for medical intervention, the disease can be fatal in certain age groups or in individuals with weakened immune systems.

According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

“People with weaker immune systems due to diseases, medications (such as chemotherapy), or recent organ or bone marrow transplants” are more vulnerable to the meningitis infection. They also mention how young people under the age of five or newborns under the age of one month with a developing immune system can be fatally affected by the disease.

They also stated:

“In the United States, non-polio enteroviruses are the most common cause of viral meningitis. Meningitis affects only a small percentage of those infected with enteroviruses.”

The above evidence suggests that Denise Dowse’s immune system was compromised, possibly contributing to her death at age 64. It is not yet known if the actress had any other underlying issues.

Denise Dowse

The Legacy of Denise Dowse

Denise Yvonne Dowse was most famous for her performances in Beverly Hills, 90210 as Mrs. Yvonne Teasley and Professor Harriet Welkman, which she played for over a decade. Meanwhile, the actress is known for her role as Dr. Rhonda Pine on Insecure, in which she appeared in six episodes over three years, from 2017 to 2020. The 64-year-old actress worked in the profession for years. more than 34 years and was recognized with more than 122 parts in various films. Denise Dowse’s most recently known role, according to her IMDb biography, was in 2022’s A Cloud So High.

Meanwhile, she directed her project, Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story, which is now in post-production. Dowse was also a voice coach for the podcast series Bronzeville last year. It is unknown how many relatives she left behind after her death (other than her sister Tracey).