Ellen Albertini Dow
Biography
Ellen Rose Albertini Dow was an American film and television character actress and drama coach. Born on November 16, 1913, in Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania, she lived to the age of 101, passing away on May 4, 2015. Throughout her career, she built a known credit portfolio of 72 items, frequently portraying feisty old ladies. She is widely recognized for her role as the rapping grandmother Rosie in the 1998 film The Wedding Singer, where she performed Rappers Delight. Her additional film credits include playing Mary Cleary in Wedding Crashers, Disco Dottie in 54, a character targeted by slapstick in Radioland Murders, and a choir nun in Sister Act. On television, she was particularly known to small screen audiences for her guest appearances on the sitcom The Golden Girls.
Career overview
Ellen Rose Albertini Dow was an American film and television character actress and drama coach who was born on November 16, 1913, in Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania, and passed away on May 4, 2015, at the age of 101. During her active career, she became known for portraying feisty old ladies across numerous film and television projects, accumulating a total of seventy-two known acting credits on the Movie Database.
Among her most notable film roles, Dow appeared as the rapping grandmother Rosie in the 1998 film The Wedding Singer, where she performed Rappers Delight. Her other prominent cinematic credits include playing elderly lady Mary Cleary, who outs her grandson in Wedding Crashers, portraying Disco Dottie in 54, appearing as the recipient of Christopher Lloyd's character's slapstick in Radioland Murders, and playing a choir nun in Sister Act.
In addition to her work in feature films, Dow was well known to television audiences through her guest appearances on the sitcom The Golden Girls. Throughout her extensive career in the entertainment industry, she established a recognizable presence as a character actress in both television and film before her death in May 2015.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
77 titles- Frank the Bastard (2015) as Dora
- Shameless (2011) as The Real Aunt Ginger
- New Girl (2011) as Aunt Ruthie
- Not Another Not Another Movie (2011) as Rose
- The Invited (2010) as Natalie Shaw
- Without a Paddle: Nature's Calling (2009) as Mrs. Bessler
- In Case of Emergency (2007)
- The Blue Hour (2007) as Anabella
- Hannah Montana (2006) as Kathrine McCord
- Fat Girls (2006) as Mildred
- American Dad! (2005) as Helen Washburn (voice)
- My Name Is Earl (2005) as Gertrude Balboa
- Wedding Crashers (2005) as Grandma Mary Cleary
- Annie's Point (2005) as Louise Tette
- Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide (2004) as Mrs. Knapp
- Cold Case (2003) as Audrey Abruzzi (2007)
- Las Vegas (2003) as Dottie Arkin
- Eight Crazy Nights (2002) as See's Candies Box (voice)
- Scrubs (2001) as Betty
- Six Feet Under (2001) as Roberta
- Longshot (2001) as Ms. Fleisher
- Nikki (2000) as Miss Marie
- Road Trip (2000) as Barry's Grandma
- Ready to Rumble (2000) as Mrs. MacKenzie
- Family Guy (1999) as Elderly Woman (voice)
- Family Guy (1999) as Aunt Helen (voice)
- Judging Amy (1999) as Mrs. Powell
- Payne (1999) as Flo
- Will & Grace (1998) as Sylvia Walker
- Patch Adams (1998) as Aggie
- The Wedding Singer (1998) as Rosie
- 54 (1998) as Disco Dottie
- Carnival of Souls (1998) as Mrs. Meltzer
- Just Shoot Me! (1997) as Mrs. Gallo
- Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction (1997) as Connie Howard (segment "Mystery Lock")
- Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (1996) as Old Lady
- Arli$$ (1996) as Amelia
- Suddenly Susan (1996) as Lily
- Cybill (1995) as Elderly Woman
- Murder One (1995)
- Ned & Stacey (1995) as Mrs. Porter
- Hope and Gloria (1995) as Miss Mae
- Problem Child 3 (1995) as Lila Duvane
- ER (1994) as Mrs. Riblet
- Sister, Sister (1994) as Betty
- On Our Own (1994) as Little Old Lady
- Radioland Murders (1994) as Organist
- The Nanny (1993) as Wendell's Mother (uncredited)
- The John Larroquette Show (1993) as Old Woman
- Dave's World (1993) as Craft Granny
- Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993) as Choir Nun
- Sister Act (1992) as Choir Nun
- Hearts Afire (1992) as Miss Abbington
- Memoirs of an Invisible Man (1992) as Mrs. Coulson
- Space Case (1992) as Betsy
- Blood and Concrete (1991) as Old Lady
- Wings (1990) as Debbie
- My Blue Heaven (1990) as Nun
- Seinfeld (1989) as Momma
- Quantum Leap (1989) as Grandma
- Family Matters (1989) as Miss Gilbert
- Christine Cromwell (1989) as Lydia
- Christine Cromwell (1989) as Nanny
- The Wonder Years (1988) as Mrs. Tambora
- Murphy Brown (1988) as Aunt Belle
- Going to the Chapel (1988) as Grandma Haldane
- Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) as Felisa
- Munchies (1987) as Little Old Lady
- Beauty and the Beast (1987) as Anna Lausch
- The Golden Girls (1985) as Mrs. Leonard
- The Golden Girls (1985) as Lillian
- The Golden Girls (1985) as Sarah
- The Twilight Zone (1985) as (segment "Need to Know")
- The Twilight Zone (1985) as (segment "The Storyteller")
- Moonlighting (1985) as Mrs. Baer
- American Drive-In (1985) as Allison
- Newhart (1982) as Dorothy Benson
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Ellen Albertini Dow best known for?
Ellen Albertini Dow is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Shameless (2011), Breakfast on Pluto (2005), Hannah Montana (2006), DreamWorks Dragons (2012).
When and where was Ellen Albertini Dow born?
Ellen Albertini Dow was born on November 16, 1913 in Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania, USA. They passed away on May 4, 2015.
How many credits does Ellen Albertini Dow have?
Ellen Albertini Dow has accumulated over 77 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1982 to 2015.
What is Ellen Albertini Dow's background in cinema and television?
Ellen Rose Albertini Dow was an American film and television character actress and drama coach. Born on November 16, 1913, in Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania, she lived to the age of 101, passing away on May 4, 2015. Throughout her career, she built a known credit portfolio of 72 items, frequently portraying feisty old ladi...
Ellen Albertini Dow by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide (2004) as Mrs. Knapp — aged about 90
- Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) as Felisa — aged about 73
- Seinfeld (1989) as Momma — aged about 75
- The Wonder Years (1988) as Mrs. Tambora — aged about 74
- Shameless (2011) as The Real Aunt Ginger — aged about 97
- Scrubs (2001) as Betty — aged about 87
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