Ellen Albertini Dow facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ellen Albertini Dow
|
|
---|---|
![]() Dow as Rosie in The Wedding Singer
|
|
Born |
Ellen Rose Albertini
November 16, 1913 |
Died | May 4, 2015 Los Angeles, California, U.S.
|
(aged 101)
Resting place | Saint Peter's Cemetery |
Alma mater | Cornell University (1935) |
Occupation | Actress, acting coach |
Years active | 1985–2013 |
Spouse(s) |
Eugene Francis Dow Jr.
(m. 1951; |
Ellen Rose Albertini Dow (born November 16, 1913 – died May 4, 2015) was an American actress and acting teacher. She was known for playing strong, older women in movies and TV shows.
Many people remember her as Rosie, the rapping grandmother in the movie The Wedding Singer (1998). In that film, she famously performed the song "Rapper's Delight".
Dow also appeared in other popular movies. She played Mary Cleary in Wedding Crashers, Disco Dottie in 54, and a choir nun in Sister Act. On TV, she was a guest star on shows like The Golden Girls and Will & Grace.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Ellen Albertini was born on November 16, 1913, in Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania. She was the youngest of seven children. Her parents, Ellen and Oliver, were immigrants from Italy. Her father owned a car dealership.
From a young age, Ellen studied dance and piano. She later moved to New York City to continue her studies. There, she worked with famous dancers and choreographers like Hanya Holm and Martha Graham.
College and Acting Studies
Dow went to Cornell University, where she earned two degrees in theater. She graduated in 1935. She also studied acting with teachers like Michael Shurtleff and Uta Hagen. In New York City, she worked with famous mimes Marcel Marceau and Jacques Lecoq.
Career Highlights
Teaching Drama
After moving to Los Angeles with her husband, Ellen Dow began teaching drama. She taught at Los Angeles City College. Later, she and her husband taught together at Los Angeles Pierce College.
She also started her own theater group called the Albertini Mime Players. She was the producer for this group for 19 years.
Acting Roles
Ellen Dow began her acting career later in life, but she became very busy. She appeared in many movies and TV shows.
Her TV roles included guest spots on popular series such as Star Trek: The Next Generation, The Golden Girls, Seinfeld, Will & Grace, Hannah Montana, and Scrubs. She was known for her memorable appearances as quirky and spirited older characters.
Personal Life
Ellen Dow married Eugene Dow Jr. on June 27, 1951. She loved collecting hats. Eugene passed away on October 11, 2004. They did not have any children.
Ellen Albertini Dow died on May 4, 2015. She was 101 years old. Her death was caused by pneumonia.
She was a Roman Catholic and supported the Democratic Party throughout her life.
Filmography
Ellen Albertini Dow appeared in many films. Here are some of them:
Year | Title | Role | Notes | ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
1985 | American Drive-In | Allison | ||
1986 | Tough Guys | Old Lady | ||
Body Slam | Organist | |||
Munchies | Little Old Lady | |||
Walk Like a Man | Organist | |||
1988 | Going to the Chapel | Grandma Haldane | ||
1990 | My Blue Heaven | Nun | ||
Genuine Risk | Receptionist | |||
1991 | Blood and Concrete | Old Lady | ||
1992 | Memoirs of an Invisible Man | Mrs. Coulson | ||
Sister Act | Choir Nun #1 | |||
Twogether | Mrs. Norton | |||
Space Case | Betsy | |||
1993 | Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit | Choir Nun #1 | ||
1994 | Radioland Murders | Organist | ||
1995 | Problem Child 3 | Lila Duvane | ||
1998 | The Wedding Singer | Rosie | ||
Carnival of Souls | Mrs. Meltzer | |||
54 | Disco Dottie | |||
Patch Adams | Aggie Kennedy | |||
2000 | Ready to Rumble | Mrs. MacKenzie | ||
Road Trip | Mrs. Manilow | |||
2001 | Longshot | Mrs. Fleisher | ||
2002 | Eight Crazy Nights | See's Candies Box | Voice | |
2005 | Wedding Crashers | Mary Cleary | ||
Halfway Decent | Mrs. Kahn | |||
2006 | Fat Girls | Mildred | ||
2007 | The Blue Hour | Anabella | ||
2008 | Lonely Street | Lydia the Librarian | ||
2010 | The Invited | Natalie Shaw | ||
2011 | Not Another Not Another Movie | Older Rose | ||
2012 | She Wants Me | Grandma Elma | ||
2013 | Frank the Bastard | Dora | Final film role |
Television Appearances
Ellen Albertini Dow also had many roles on television. Here are some of them:
Year | Title | Role | Notes | ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
1986 | The Twilight Zone | Mrs. Hotchkiss | Episode: "Need to Know" | |
Mr. Belvedere | Old Lady | Episode: "Grandma" | ||
The Twilight Zone | Old Woman | Episode: "The Storyteller" | ||
1987 | Beauty and the Beast | Anna Lausch | Episode: "Nor Iron Bars a Cage" | |
1988 | Moonlighting | Mrs. Baer | Episode: "Los Dos DiPestos" | |
Mr. Belvedere | Old Lady | Episode: "The Trip: Part 1" | ||
Webster | Mrs. Crane | Episode: "Papa's Big Romance" | ||
The Golden Girls | Mrs. Leonard | Episode: "The Days and Nights of Sophia Petrillo" | ||
Lillian | Episode: "Sophia's Choice" | |||
1991 | Sarah | Episode: "Older and Wiser" | ||
1992 | The Wonder Years | Mrs. Tambora | Episode: "Kevin Delivers" | |
1992 | Down the Shore | The Old Woman | Episode: "Atlantic City" | |
1993 | Star Trek: The Next Generation | Felisa Howard | Episode: "Sub Rosa" | |
1994 | Family Matters | Mrs. Ostendorf | Episode: "That's What Friends Are For" | |
1995 | ER | Mrs. Riblet | Episode: "Hell & High Water" | |
Seinfeld | Peterman's mother | Episode: "The Secret Code" | ||
1997 | Beyond Belief - Fact or Fiction | Aunt Connie | Segment: "Mystery Lock" | |
Sabrina the Teenage Witch | Homeowner | Episode: "A River of Candy Corn Runs Through It" | ||
1999 | Just Shoot Me! | Mrs. Gallo | Episode: "Jack Vents" | |
2001 | Will & Grace | Sylvia Walker | Episode: "The Young and the Tactless" | |
2005 | Scrubs | Betty | Episode: "My Faith in Humanity" | |
Six Feet Under | Roberta | Episode: "Time Flies" | ||
My Name Is Earl | Gertrude Balboa | Episode: "Broke Joy's Fancy Figurine" | ||
2006 | Hannah Montana | Katherine McCord | Episode: "Debt It Be" | |
Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide | Miss Knapp | Episode: “ Social Studies/Embarrassment” | ||
The Emperor's New School | Azma | Voice, episode: "The Bride of Kuzco" | ||
2007 | Cold Case | Audrey Abruzzi | Episode: "Torn" | |
2011 | Shameless | The Real Aunt Ginger | Episode: "Aunt Ginger" | |
2012 | Family Guy | Aunt Helen | Voice, episode: "Jesus, Mary and Joseph!" | |
2013 | New Girl | Aunt Ruthie | Episode: "Chicago" |
See Also
In Spanish: Ellen Albertini Dow para niños
- List of centenarians (actors, filmmakers and entertainers)