Mrs. T

coma and she never woke up from the coma. It's unbelievable to me, and I can't imagine how devastated her family is, her sister, everyone that knew her. I mean, it was just shocking, shocking, it was. These kind of deaths are the hardest. I think it was so hard to put up a post the other day and I saw that from her account on Instagram she had posted

someone had posted back. And you have that moment where you're like, I know it's they're gone, and I know it's true, but I had that one moment where I was like I almost felt like maybe she's still there, and it was her sister Tracy taking over her account to stay to all of her friends and fans um what had happened, and to kind of fill everyone in. And it was just like you felt like that lost, Like everybody. She was so loved, I mean everyone, yeah, everywhere.

She had so many fans, so many fans from so many different shows. I mean, yes, Denise was best known, probably by a lot of people, for her role as Mrs Teasley, uh Mrs t as we called her on our show, but she was on so many other shows. Oh my gosh, she'said like a hundred and twenty two acting credits alone on her d m IMDb page, and and she just finished her first full length directorial gig.

She was in her prime. Yeah, and it's so hard Like at the time, we were in high school and she was the vice principal, So you think if someone is so much older, I didn't realize she's just sixty four. She's basically fifteen years old. Hello, that's great. God. I didn't realize she was our vice principal. I thought she was always just the principle. Was there someone else that was the principal? No, it seems like she was just that was it? That was. It was Mrs T that

was in. How many episodes was she in? Because she was episodes over all ten. Yeah, she was in the finale at the Web, at our wedding, at Donna and David's wedding. It's teasily there. It's so interesting because when I thought back, I'd forgotten she was in the wedding episode. And in my mind, I was like, gosh, we were so close with her, and she loved so much and we loved her so much that she just kept back

pean back to visit set. That's what my memory was, and I was like, no, she kept being in episodes along the ten seasons, even after we were in high school anymore. Because there was just something about Denise that was so like easy and like like she was like your oldest friend, and she just would show up on set and then she'd be in a scene and then it would be like it was just so natural being around her and and working with her like so easy.

I could still remember her smile. She always me I mean I remember, I mean, I think my first big scheme with her was when Donna had a learning stability and I was so nervous. I was like, oh, my gosh, I have to do drama. I hadn't done much aside from being like the sidekick on the show. And she was so easy to work with, it so encouraging, and she knew I was super nervous, and that was the day that was just like, oh my gosh, thank goodness, that big scene was with her. Um. Yeah, she always

gave the best hugs set. Yeah, such a warm, kind woman. And I can imagine, you know, she just directed the this movie um with a friend of mine, actually remember me, the Mahalia Jackson Story, which looks like it's a really good movie, and she I can imagine what it was like to be directed by her and to be on her set, because she just had that like warm and

you know, engaging, inviting, inclusive energy about her. So it's just a terrible loss for for a lot a lot of people that worked with her knew her, loved her and her family. And also just seeing the outpour of actors who she had worked with coached at just over the years that just loved her so much, loved working with her. Was really nice to see. I mean, because she was really respected and prolific actress. You know. Part of this industry. She for so many years was doing

her thing and and she never in the game. She loved it. I thought what Iron wrote was really beautiful if you want me to read it, because he had so many m Steve and Mrs Teasley had scenes with her because she really you know, had to hand it to him a lot, a lot. So he wrote, um, so heartbroke, so heartbreaking to say Denise Dalles has passed away.

Throughout all my years working on Beverly Hills nine O two and O, my scenes with Denise will always be remembered with the utmost in respect for her talent and fondness for the loving soul she was. Some of my heartiest off camera laughs were between she and I hammering out the discipline her Mrs Teasley would dish out to my Steve Sanders, my sincere condolences to her family and all others who she was dear too. God bless you Denise.

Pay forward that legacy, key A. I mean, he's such a beautiful writer, but that really brings tears to my eyes. It just sounds like she had such a presence on your set. Yeah, and it would it would be accurate to think that he to say that he worked with her probably the most, because Steve was always getting into trouble at school. Yeah. It makes me laugh because I can think about her scenes where she is just like

given him the what for? Yeah, and I just it just seems like these kinds of losses are so like unbelievable, unimaginable and unacceptable in my brain, you know, like it's yeah, yeah, because you are frozen in time with her from thirty years ago. I would love to go back and look at some of the first script she was in and see like she was it written in there or did she bring that humor to it. We have a few sort of iconic Mrs Teasley scenes that will play throughout

this episode today. So if you want to listen to a couple right now, Yes, let's listen to What's our first? Is the first one from the first season. Yes, let's listen to something from the first season right now. This study is getting on my nerves. That fits in with your personality profile. You avoid probing beneath the surface and have a tendency to gloss things over with words thank you,

and you're more intuitive, open but impressionable. Two peas in a pod right Okay, wow, so that was your first appearance and I know you went out. Yeah, so what if we take a quick break and we're gonna come back with um some fans like, we really just wanted to make this a special, special moment to honor Denise A k A. Mrs t m H. Hi Jessica, Hey, how are you guys? Hi? It's so nice of you

to join us, Thank you, thank you for asking. So we we know that you have heard the news about Denise and just kind of wanted to give us a little insight. You are a big fan of hers, I am of the show, of all of it. Um uh you know. I was googling, like youtubeing some different videos of her last night and there was one um she was flying to Hawaii to celebrate a birthday and was just like telling her fans thank you for the birthday.

She just seemed like the kindest, sweetest person. And then I realized she she had made guest appearances on several shows that I had liked, um Seinfeld Gilmore Girls, but one of the favorites was obviously not I know two I know, and one of my best memories of her I think was of course the Donna Martin graduates, and I remember when she came to tell Brandon or somebody, I think that the school board was you know, gonna, i don't know, expel them or not let them graduate,

and she was like, protect your education, don't throw it away. But I felt like, deep inside she was like stick to your guns. You know. She always had a professional attitude and did what was right. But I don't know, I just always got the vibe as a teenager that like, deep down she was in support of the kids, or she wanted to see him, you know, take a stand for what was right. At least that was the that was the feeling I got. Yeah. Yeah, I think that's why we all felt so close to her too, because

she felt like one of us. Like she didn't feel like an authoritarian figure. You know, she was more fun and supportive. Like you said, yeah, she seemed like that kind of person that you could, you know, go and sit down in the office and just tell your troubles too, or your boy problems or you know whatever it was. At least as a teenager watching the show, that's what I felt like. It was like everybody wanted a vice principal like her, and she was like that in real life. Yeah,

that's awesome. It's so sad. It's she just seemed like a very kind, genuine person. It was sad to hear the news. Yeah, well, our hearts go out to her. Thank you Jessica for your insight, and thank you guys remembering her. Let me do this of course, talk to you.

I think one of my um favorite like the ones that comes to my mind right away is that is the episode that was like around Christmas where we all went on the school bus and um, Steve was like, wasn't he suspended or he was in detention or something. He wasn't supposed to show up, but then he did and he dressed like Santa. If we just watched this on the on the pod, we went to Alvarado Street, yep, and we were all chewing gum on the bus. Totaly

misses you too. Oh that was season three, episode sixteen. It's a totally happening life. Perhaps your spaces on the bus could have been filled from the long waiting list of students who would have been happy to join us at the Alvarado Street School today. But at this point, unless you have a note from your doctor saying that you have pneumonia and I want to see that chest x ray. I expect to see each and every one of your smiling faces on that bus, and I mean immediately,

if not sooner. That was a good one. Oh my gosh. Now I just want to jump to like season ten, the season finale, and see her again at the wedding. No, don't do that yet. I want to see her at the grat. I watched it on YouTube last night. I couldn't help myself. It's so it's so cool, and I just remember thinking like, oh my gosh, I wonder when that episode comes on and it's happening this season, like are we gonna have Denissan? And then yeah, it's so crazy.

Why don't we uh go to another caller? I think we have another caller UM that will share their memories with us too. Hi, Tracy, how are you great? How are you ok? He was We're all meaning under better circumstances, But thank you for doing listening remembering Denise and his tea. So UM, we just wanted to ask you, UM, what your favorite memories of her? UM? You know, I loved when she I loved her and Steve together, Iron's character and her UM and how she would always call him Stephen. Um,

she'd always like Stephen. I forgot about that. I just loved um. You know. I was thinking about this last night, and I was thinking how Nanotune always always so progressive, and they had a female principle, like a woman of color as a principle, and I just don't think that that was common when you looked back at like Growing Pains and some of those other shows that were on.

And so I loved how her and Stephen Steve had the dynamics between them of like this rich, privileged kid and she could always just put him right, you know, right in his corner. I always call her the vice principle. Was she not? Was she the principal? I think she was the principal. I always thought she was the principal too. I don't know why. It's always stuck with me that she was vice principal. Mrs Teasley, Yeah, she was principal. I think she was for sure. I do, yes. So

I'm so sorry. I I my deepest condolences for you guys, And I mean, um, it's just it's sad when you know she was such an icon on that show, especially at the beginning of um, the show, and I was just I kind of in my head, I finally have been catching up on the podcast and so I'm finally ahead of like you guys a little bit. And so I just watched the graduation and she was on there and the prom and all that stuff. So what a fantastic lady though, Yeah, so she actually was the vice principal.

She was. Yes, that's just weird, but she was so good that we just never showed the prince. Yeah, we didn't need to, Like you're kidding, I don't ever remember the principal. You don't exactly. I mean, such a good point,

we didn't need one. I mean we have Mrs T. And such a good point you made about her being, you know, in that position on the show and being a person of color and just like having that representation at that time, and she was so such a strong, confident, like capable lady that it just didn't it didn't even ever enter into anyone's mind that she would this woman

wouldn't be the principle of the vice principle. So because she was always the one calling the shots, it seemed like I wish he couldn't have the chance to ask her, like I can't remember how she came into the show or if it was like, hey, it's gonna be one episode or like once in a while, and then just became such a force to be reckoned with such a major character that she was so iconic that they just I mean, she was an all ten seasons. I know, we we graduated from high school and she wasn't still

in the show. Well, and you know what she remember she was a different character with Brenda and Brandon with the Twins study. Wait, see that's what Tor was just saying before we connected with you. She was like, wasn't she on the show as somebody else? And we're like, no, I don't think so, but you're right, he was during the Twins study. And then she came back and suddenly was vice principal. I will never doubt your memory again. I'm sorry. I don't think you should ever doubt that reason.

But I don't think I should ever doubt anyone's memory, but especially hers. She has like an elephant's memory. Whatever that is. That is so funny. Well, and then she was on later episodes too. I think David gets in a little trouble with like a high school girl something happens. I don't remember, but she's on some of those episodes later. Yeah, well that's good we get to see her more. Yes,

I know. I mean technically they should have just switched her over to California University and she should have just come with us. Yea, why not. We could have been the principle on that show whatever they call it. Yeah, oh my gosh, Jracy, thank you so much for your help with us and talking about this awful subject but having such a great memory and a and a love for her. Yes, I really appreciate what you guys are

doing on the podcast. I um, I know, I grew up with you guys and um, you know, listening to you on the shows and watching you guys transform. I just really appreciate like everything that you're doing bringing it back. I mean, it just really warms my heart to be able to kind of have a little piece of thirty years again. That's awesome. We do a really hard show for us to do today, so thank you for bring some smiles and laughs into it as well. Get that.

I appreciate it. Thank you so much for inviting me. Thank you. Hi, Hi, Hi Allison, Hi Sori, how are you Hi? Jenny, Hi, Hi, thank you for joining us. We are so excited that you're here with us. But it's unfortunately we're talking about such a awful subject. But what are your some of some of your fondest Mrs T moments or memories. Yeah, well, I was just watching the one UM the other day, so I'm just now on a binge wash. So I'm on season three and

in the opening, UM, there's Yeah, it's perfect. I know it correlates with the podcast perfectly that I just discovered. So now I'm obviously obsessed. UM, so I have lots of episodes to catch up on. But yeah, there was the episode with um, We're in the inning, Steve is having a recurring nightmare that he is Mrs Teasley is saying you failed, you failed school, Steve, like you're gonna be You're gonna have to repeat senior year and he wakes up in a panic, and it's just so relatable.

So I was wondering if you guys had any stories like that, if you ever had nine O two and no induced anxiety dreams where you woke up in the panic, like showed up to set naked or something like that. But I just remember that was a really good, um, Mrs Teasley moment because we can all relate to that, right. Yeah. I don't know if I ever had any Mrs t uh premonitions or nightmares or whatever dreams, whatever you want

to call them. I've certainly lived my life full of two and related dreams in nightmares, those are deverely but that's a good thing. Yeah, I definitely. I think I would have like that when you would show up to school and like you hadn't studied, but I would show up to school but I didn't know my lines, but I was in the hallway, so it was at the blend of school and real life acting. Yeah, totally, that

makes sense. Yeah, I think we've all had those dreams where you show up and there's also a scene with Gabrielle and she shows up and she has no clothes remember me, and um, and I think just all of that is so relatable. And then her just as a principal, as a teacher, I think one of my other questions would be I was wondering who would be more most like their character, because I feel like that character she

plays so well. I bet she's probably a lot like that in real life, just like wants the best for everyone in her life, do you know what I mean? That was definitely one of her characteristics for sure. But she was also a lot more spicy and fun and sassy than she could be as Mrs Teasley. She brought a lot of Yeah like Mrs t remember she would always dress really cool wid yeah yeah, like yeah, wait. I would have a question about your set up there

looks like here professional podcaster Alison. What's happening? Yes, I have the Food Heels podcast, So this is my my studio. This is where I record all my episodes as well, so podcast hosts and major podcast listener. That's why I was just so excited to discover your show. Awesome, I like yourself. Yeah, it's really impressive. Horses on your Is that a topper address? It's like it's a little address. We need to up our game tour this. I know

this background not so good. Your background not so good? Sorry, but yeah, no we need yeah, well, we just have more to prove when we don't have as much federation already as you guys, so people like us, we just have to up level from day one. We'll take some lessons from you, for sure, And Tori, I have to tell you we have a mutual friend who asked me to say hi, and that is plant powered chef Leslie Doer. So Oh, I love her. I know she's she's yeah,

I want her food is amazing, it's the best. You would love her well, Alison, thank you for joining us for our Mrs t Tribute episode. Absolutely thanks for having Hopefully we'll chat again. Sure, good ladies, good luck my girls. M H. Talk to me, Steve. You're in very serious trouble now. Either you tell me the name of your accomplice or I'm going to be forced to recommend expulsion rather than suspension. It could be the difference between graduating

on time. We're not graduating at all. It was it was a solo operation. I did it all by myself. Then I'm sorry to say that as of today, you're no longer a student. It was Beverly High. Did you, guys, have a teacher in your own lives or a principle just in honor of Mrs Teasley that stood out to you that made like a real impact on on your lives? Did you? I feel like it was more like my drama school teacher in high school, Like she was really awesome.

I believed in me. Other than that, I never had a Mrs T. Like, there was never someone that was like you got this side for you. No, the only one I can't remember, which is weird that I can even remember this because you're like kindergarten, But it was Mrs Bailey in Arcola, Illinois. She was my kindergarten teacher. I think it was kindergarten. Like, I remember nothing, but I can remember Mrs Bailey and I used to call

her Mrs Bailey Button. Oh my god. That significant then, but just like that loving, nurturing kind and then my daughter's had, you know what, it reminds me of my daughter's growing up. They went to a school which was a really small school here in l A and they

had the most incredible principle, Margot. They called her by her first name, and her name was Marco, and she was Mrs T through and through, just completely different um and you always felt like she was you were under her wing, you know somehow, Like I always just wanted

to be held like a baby by Margo. And it's kind of that safe, secure feeling that you're talking about with Mrs T. Yeah, you would have to assume that the writers whoever created her in the beginning had a teacher or a principal like that, did hey or was she just so great and brought that uniqueness to it that they're like, oh wait, we gotta keep using her.

Look at the chemistry she asked with the kids look at yeah, like I just That's why I was saying, I wish we could go back and look at a script and see if she created that character or if they did. She's so important to the overall like um high school experience and had to have grown as they

saw her work. And I love that when people who you ask that question, when people do have that experience of a specific teacher or administrator from their their school life that deeply, profoundly affects their life forever like that, You know. I love that they did bring that element into the show because so many people can relate to that. I personally can't. I can for my kids, but I can't my own self. Amy, did you have somebody in

your life that was like that? Of course I had three teachers for sure, and the principle in my elementary school, but really to this day stand out like I think most people I know your experiences were different because Jenny didn't really have a regular school experience, Tori, you did more.

But yeah, I think most people have a teacher that stands out to them, and I think the teachers that really encourage you to be you, almost in the way Mrs Teasley sort of did with Steve in a sense, like she even though she had to like bust him a lot, she really let him be him, which is

I think why that relationship is the most significant. That's so that's kind of where I think on teachers, Like the teacher that sort of embraces who you are and lets you know, like, no, you're you're good enough be you. So that's sort of where I am with Mrs Teasley that like she really loves Steve even for all his ridiculous shenanigans. Yeah, that's a good point because I mean, when you think about it, those are the people that

really do impact your life the most. The people that accept you for just the way you are and love you anyway. I love you because of exactly who you are.

Those are the people that have such a profound effect. Yeah, I don't always think the teacher's favorite is necessarily the best student, right, You know, like the teacher embraces the kid that's doing their thing, or maybe the kid needs to hear how great they are or needs that, and maybe they they see that, you know, sort of insecurity and their kid and a certain kid, and they work

harder to support them. That's so awesome. I feel like Steve and since he went on to be friends throughout their lives, Oh for sure, right yeah, yeah, like she's

like the grandma to his kids. Like the mm hmmm, I would think so, I think my question about it all it's like horribly sad, of course, but it's also how significant the roles on this show are, Like the thirty years later in every headline, it's nine O two one oh, and almost anyone passed a teenager age immediately knows, oh, that's Mrs Teasley, Oh my goodness, and and to and and especially to remember how much other work she had done over the course of her career and too, and

and the coolest part about it get little goose bumps is because we both know that it didn't matter to her that she was proud and she loved being recognized as Mrs Teasley like she loved our fans as much as we do. And I remember doing some sort of an appearance or something with her where we were signing autographs or something, and she was just so into it and so, you know, just aware of how important our fans are to us and to the show, and she

just loved it. It's just me. Yeah, can sucks you guys, losing people right like, especially so young like, and it seems like we've lost a lot of people from from our show. I mean that happens especially as you start to get older. But for a long time, I mean we lost so many meet starting with your dad and Paul Wagner, then Steve Wasserman and Jessica. I mean there have been others, h but these ones that they're coming to my mind right now, Jessica Klein, now Denise and

of course obviously Luke. It just doesn't mm hmmm, it doesn't makes sense in my brain. Yeah, but it's just so it's it makes watching it so interesting because they're preserved, you know, like even although Luke went on to do so many things, he will always be Dylan and he will always be that age. Mm hmm. Yeah. It's nice

to have those shows to watch though. Are you guys able to watch Luke, especially now fondly or is it still painful like every episode you rewatch For me, it's very painful, but full of fundness too, like full of love, And yeah, be happy seeing that episodes again for that reason. I mean, obviously we love rewatching the episodes with the fans, but being able to see him weekly now again, it's really special. Glad we have that. M Yeah, so glad

we have it. But also it's like it just makes it further seems like it's not real, like he's still there, like he's Denise is still right where, right there and doing our thing like it just doesn't because it's so cemented in our minds and so such a and it had such an impact on us and on the fans of the show, like it does. I hear all over the place it doesn't feel real. I can't, I don't. I don't believe it. It doesn't feel real. And that's

sort of the same with Denise. Yeah, it felt like you were about to say, Jenny, right where you left them, And that makes me cry. It's like, yeah, they're right where you left, right where you love them. Yeah, but I'm so sorry for your loss, you guys, I'm so sorry, family and friends. It's just I mean, loss is really hard, grief is hard. Like this is not a feel good episode, you guys that were putting together here, I'm sweating, like it's not a not a good Monday more. I mean

it is. It's like you can't help but watch it differently, like you will watch now, Mrs Teasley, because we have so many iconic episodes coming up. I mean we're about to hit going to Magic Mountain, the Prom, Donna Martin graduates, and graduation, so it will be something that you guys, I'm sure think about and talk about as we go into the next few weeks. Oh my god, I'm growing over a person I don't know, and to think like someday, oh, this is so hard. Someday none of us are going

to be here, you know, Oh my god. Stop. But like to really appreciate, like what we all have in each other and like these relationships, because that's what life is all about, is the people in your life and and the effect that we have on one another. And to to be able to sit and talk about someone who had, you know, these people that had such an impact on our lives and that that they have forever in our memories just as they were. It's a it's

just crazy like life. Yeah, yeah, I think it's so important to remember to like how a little thing can impact someone's life, and also that just having this show, the work you did, impacts people thirty years later. And I think, like, look, I don't mean to be so like preachy or blame. It's like, WHOA, you have to remember that it's such an honor to have that position in people's lives. And I like that it seems like everyone from the cast embraces it. No one is like,

I'm not nine o two one oh anymore. It's like they embraced the fact that they changed my life other people's lives with this show, and even if it was just to escape for an hour from whatever you were doing. I hope everyone feels that way. I know, Jen, and I definitely too. Yeah, grateful for it, be grateful to made so many people happy through it and continue to.

But it's not like it's not like I walk around thinking, oh, I've had such an impact on people, like I of the time forget that I was on the show and that it had an impact on anyone. But and when people do stop and and you know, say something or put themselves out there and be you know and say, oh my gosh, your show did this or whatever for me, and I loved it, and I'm you just fan, Like I'm so grateful for those people now because it reminds me of like what I was a part of and

what we were all a part of. And I think we just learned to appreciate it more and more as we get older, because i mean, like we talked about all the time when we were in it, we didn't understand the effect it was having the people at the

time because we were just doing it. Now, especially having families of our own and seeing the shows that are meeting something to them there, you know, getting older, it's like, wow, that's what people had with us, that they continue to have that, And that's when it really is like it is an honor, not orm as an honor to be able to do this episode today for everyone to UM, so thank you for going on this little tribute journey

with us. UM. We love to hear your memories and your favorite moments from the show with Mrs Teasley, so let us know. Yeah, and UM, just love the people around you and keep keep doing what you're doing everybody out there? Yeah, you know what makes me? It just makes me think also like enjoy um all, it's gonna make me cry. Enjoy that hour you spend. Don't feel guilty in your life taking an hour to watch something that you love on TV? Do you know what I mean?

Like and like embracing it or escaping from reality, Like that's what really makes me realize. It's like we should not feel guilty about like just having that our two or ten for some of us, where you just h get completely immersed in a show that you just love for whatever reason you love it. Yeah, And and then for people in the industry to really remember like the impact that you have on people and like the importance

of what it what it is that we do. I'm so often I'm like, who cares, I'm just an actress, Like I'm just a pawn and somebody else's story that they're telling. And but when you when when all of the collaborators come together and make something that has an impact on somebody out there, it's incredibly important. Who was it that's I I'm assuming it's Henry Winkler because he's so freaking awesome that it seems like he would have said this, but it might have been somebody else who said,

I stop every time to take the picture. Because what if it's the first person they ever asked? What if that's their first experience and it's like, oh my god, it's so so true. Yeah, that it's like that's their like moment where they're like, oh my god, meeting somebody or seeing somebody that they It's like when they say never meet heroes, but not that we're anyone's heroes, but

it's true. What if that is that experience and we all have lives and stress and since you're having a bad day, but yeah, just being able to take that moment and remember what they've given to us for thirty years and give them that two minutes so important. Well, we're going to Magic Mountain next week, so that will be fun. Parts um, I've seen to remember you being very excited to be at Magic Mountain. Well, at least Donna. Yeah,

it's one of them. That is one of the best scenes time in the episode next week that I cannot wait. Oh my gosh, we will get into all things. She came in through the bathroom window next week. Everybody, thank you for joining us, for this episode, honoring Denise Douse and forever in our hearts. Mrs T. Thank you guys, we love you and we're so sorry for your loss.