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Denise Dowse, an actress known for Beverly Hills, 90210 and Insecure, is in a coma after contracting meningitis. Dowse’s sister Tracey shared the news, writing in an Aug. 6 Instagram post that she was making the “hard decision” to update Dowse’s fans because she is a “private person.”
“I am requesting support and prayers be offered me and my sister @denisedowse,” Tracey wrote. “She is currently in the hospital in a coma brought on by a virulent form of meningitis. Her doctors do not know when she will come out of the coma as it was not medically induced.”
She continued, “She is a vibrant actor and director that should have many years ahead of her. Thoughts, prayers and support are greatly appreciated.”
Meningitis “is an inflammation (swelling) of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord,” according to the CDC. The CDC also notes that “people with bacterial meningitis can have seizures [or] go into a coma.”
Tracey shared an additional statement with Page Six on Tuesday (Aug. 9), telling the outlet Denise is still in a coma, but adding, “We are hopeful that she will come out of this soon.”
Denise has been acting professionally since the late ’80s, and has appeared in Full House, Murphy Brown, Seinfeld and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She’s also had recurring roles in Girlfriends, Charmed and Criminal Minds.
More recently, Denise appeared in Good Trouble, The Resident, Grey’s Anatomy, Stumptown and multiple episodes of HBO’s Insecure, in which she played Dr. Rhonda Pine, Molly’s (Yvonne Orji) therapist. Her most recent acting role was in the film A Cloud So High, in which she played Detective Trina McWilliams.
Denise is also a director, having directed a short in 2004 and more recently a drama titled Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story, which stars Columbus Short, Corbin Bleu, Keith David and Vanessa Williams.
