'Beverly Hills, 90210' Actress Denise Dowse Passes Away After Severe Battle With Meningitis

Veteran actress Denise Dowse, who's known for her roles in "Beverly Hills, 90210" and "Insecure," passed away at 64.

According to her sister Tracy Dowse, she died after a long battle with viral meningitis. Following her announcement, tributes poured in for the prolific actress, each a testament to her exemplary embodiments.

Before this, Tracy had previously shared that her sister had been hospitalized and was in a coma after suffering from a viral inflammation of the meninges. She also requested that support and prayers be sent to their family at the time.

Read on for more details.

Family and colleagues are mourning the loss of an iconic actress who died at age 64 following a battle with viral meningitis.

"It is with a very heavy heart that I inform everyone that my sister, Denise Dowse, has gone forward to meet our family in eternal life," Dowse's sister, Tracey Dowse, posted on Instagram on Saturday. "Denise Yvonne Dowse was the most amazing sister, a consummate, illustrious actress, mentor, and director. She was my very best friend and final family member."

She concluded, "Denise loved all of you. I know she is watching over us with all her love." Following her announcement, plenty tributes poured in for the late actress.

Ian Ziering, who played Steve Sanders on "90210," remembered her as a talented actor and a "loving soul."

"This is insanely heartbreaking. Throughout all my years working on Beverly Hills, 90210, my scenes with Denise will always be remembered with the utmost respect for her talent and fondness for the loving soul she was."

A week ago, Tracy revealed that her sister had been hospitalized with viral meningitis, causing the actress to slip into a coma. At the time, Tracy couldn't tell when she would come around because it wasn't a medically induced coma.

"I am requesting support and prayers be offered to my sister and me and my only immediate family @denisedowse."

Tracey continued, "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."

Since her death, condolences and tributes have been trooping in. Also, friends and family alike have shared their fondest memories of the actress on their social media and in the comments section.

Although she's known for her role in "Insecure" and "Beverly Hills, 90210," Denise was an exemplary actress who played the role of a principal in 2005's "Coach Carter," Ray Charles' manager in "Ray," and multiple features on CBS' "Criminal Minds" and "The Guardian."

Other TV credits include "Law & Order," "House," "Grey's Anatomy," "Bones," "Monk," "Gilmore Girls," "Nip/Tuck," "Charmed," "The Bernie Mac Show," "Moesha," "ER," "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "The X-Files," "Seinfeld" and "Full House."

In addition, she voiced Nickelodeon cartoon characters in both "Rugrats" and "Rocket Power."  She's also had several directing credits to her name. She directed the "Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story," which premièred at the Pan African Film & Arts Festival in Los Angeles five months ago.

In an interview with Page Six, Tracy shared that her sister was proud of directing "Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story," which opened and premièred at the Pan African Film & Arts Festival in Los Angeles in April.

"She has won several best director awards at this year's film festivals," Tracey shared. The movie follows the story of gospel singer Mahalia Jackson and her tumultuous relationship with her aunt after her mother's demise.

Not only was she a gospel singer, but she was also a civil rights activist who stood her ground and understood the movement.

The movie also interlocks Jackson's fight for freedom and her personal search for love. It was written by Ericka Nicole Malone and had an ensemble of stellar cast members, including Columbus Short, Janet Hubert, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Vanessa A. Williams, Corbin Bleu, Keith David, and Keith Robinson.