Actor Denise Dowse slips into coma after suffering from viral meningitis

American actor Denise Dowse of "Beverly Hills, 90210" has slipped into coma as she battles viral meningitis. People close to veteran actor and her friends mainly from Hollywood were praying for an early recovery.

From various parts of the country, prayers are being offered for Hollywood veteran actor Denise Dowse. She is popular for her role as a professor (Professor Harriet Strathmore in 1990 television series "Beverly Hills, 90210" and Vice-Principal Yvone Teasley in the second part of '90210' for 23 episodes.

She is an alumnus of Norfolk State University from where she graduated in 1981.


She was diagnosed with viral meningitis, according to her sister Tracey Dowse. The disease came as a headache in July and she went into a coma on July 18 which was diagnosed as viral meningitis on July 21. Fellow Actor and Director Joe James, who also hails from Norfolk, and has acted with her in "Hiram and Nettie" were shocked to read the Facebook update.

He had just seen a clip of her picture on his thread and he felt devastated. Terrance Afer-Anderson, also a director, is requesting prayers for Denise online, and people are praying, he confirms, from across the country. Her Los Angeles, home mate, and sister Tracey recalled her role in “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf”. She is of the opinion that it was among her favourite roles as the lead.

Denise has played more than 100 roles in television, theatre, and films. Some of her popular roles are the principal of a school in "Coach Carter", a judge in "Law and Order" and her roles in "Beverly Hills 90210". Like Tracey, her sister, many in the USA would pray that Denise comes back from her illness to act again in showbiz.