Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Born
November 16, 1913
Died
May 4, 2015 (age 101)
Place of Birth
Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania, USA
Also Known As
The Rapping Granny
The Rapping Grandmother
Ellen Albertini Dow
Biography
Ellen Rose Albertini Dow (November 16, 1913 – May 4, 2015) was an American film and television character actress and drama coach. She portrayed feisty old ladies and may be best known as the rapping grandmother Rosie in The Wedding Singer (1998), performing "Rappers Delight". Dow's other film roles include elderly lady Mary Cleary who "outs" her grandson in Wedding Crashers, Disco Dottie in 54, the recipient of Christopher Lloyd's character's slapstick in Radioland Murders and a choir nun in Sister Act. She was best known to small screen audiences for her guest appearances on sitcom The Golden Girls.
Description above from the Wikipedia article Ellen Albertini Dow,licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Ellen Albertini Dow, ‘The Wedding Singer’ Rapping Grandmother, Dies at 101
VideoKnown For
TV
Family Guy
Elderly Woman (voice)
1999
TV
Family Guy
Aunt Helen (voice)
1999
TV
Shameless
The Real Aunt Ginger
2011
TV
American Dad!
Helen Washburn (voice)
2005
TV
Seinfeld
Momma
1989
TV
ER
Mrs. Riblet
1994
TV
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Felisa
1987
TV
The Nanny
Wendell's Mother (uncredited)
1993
TV
Scrubs
Betty
2001
TV
Cold Case
Audrey Abruzzi (2007)
2003
TV
New Girl
Aunt Ruthie
2011
TV
Quantum Leap
Grandma
1989
TV
Judging Amy
Mrs. Powell
1999
TV
Nikki
Miss Marie
2000
TV
Wings
Debbie
1990
TV
Las Vegas
Dottie Arkin
2003
TV
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch
Old Lady
1996
TV
My Name Is Earl
Gertrude Balboa
2005
TV
Will & Grace
Sylvia Walker
1998
TV
Family Matters
Miss Gilbert
1989
Filmography
2015FilmFrank the Bastardas Dora2011FilmNot Another Not Another Movieas Rose2011TVNew Girlas Aunt Ruthie2011TVShamelessas The Real Aunt Ginger2010FilmThe Invitedas Natalie Shaw2009FilmWithout a Paddle: Nature's Callingas Mrs. Bessler2007TVIn Case of Emergency2007FilmThe Blue Houras Anabella2006FilmFat Girlsas Mildred2006TVHannah Montanaas Kathrine McCord2005TVMy Name Is Earlas Gertrude Balboa2005FilmWedding Crashersas Grandma Mary Cleary2005TVAmerican Dad!as Helen Washburn (voice)2005FilmAnnie's Pointas Louise Tette2004TVNed's Declassified School Survival Guideas Mrs. Knapp2003TVCold Caseas Audrey Abruzzi (2007)2003TVLas Vegasas Dottie Arkin2002FilmEight Crazy Nightsas See's Candies Box (voice)2001FilmLongshotas Ms. Fleisher2001TVScrubsas Betty2001TVSix Feet Underas Roberta2000TVNikkias Miss Marie2000FilmRoad Tripas Barry's Grandma2000FilmReady to Rumbleas Mrs. MacKenzie1999TVJudging Amyas Mrs. Powell1999TVPayneas Flo1999TVFamily Guyas Elderly Woman (voice)1998FilmPatch Adamsas Aggie1998TVWill & Graceas Sylvia Walker1998Film54as Disco Dottie1998FilmCarnival of Soulsas Mrs. Meltzer1998FilmThe Wedding Singeras Rosie1997TVBeyond Belief: Fact or Fictionas Connie Howard (segment "Mystery Lock")1997TVJust Shoot Me!as Mrs. Gallo1996TVSabrina, the Teenage Witchas Old Lady1996TVSuddenly Susanas Lily1996TVArli$$as Amelia1995TVMurder One1995TVNed & Staceyas Mrs. Porter1995FilmProblem Child 3as Lila Duvane1995TVHope and Gloriaas Miss Mae1995TVCybillas Elderly Woman1994FilmRadioland Murdersas Organist1994TVERas Mrs. Riblet1994TVOn Our Ownas Little Old Lady1994TVSister, Sisteras Betty1993FilmSister Act 2: Back in the Habitas Choir Nun1993TVThe Nannyas Wendell's Mother (uncredited)1993TVDave's Worldas Craft Granny1993TVThe John Larroquette Showas Old Woman1992TVHearts Afireas Miss Abbington1992FilmSister Actas Choir Nun1992FilmMemoirs of an Invisible Manas Mrs. Coulson1992FilmSpace Caseas Betsy1991FilmBlood and Concreteas Old Lady1990FilmMy Blue Heavenas Nun1990TVWingsas Debbie1989TVChristine Cromwellas Lydia1989TVFamily Mattersas Miss Gilbert1989TVSeinfeldas Momma1989TVQuantum Leapas Grandma1988TVMurphy Brownas Aunt Belle1988FilmGoing to the Chapelas Grandma Haldane1988TVThe Wonder Yearsas Mrs. Tambora1987TVStar Trek: The Next Generationas Felisa1987TVBeauty and the Beastas Anna Lausch1987FilmMunchiesas Little Old Lady1985TVThe Twilight Zoneas (segment "Need to Know")1985FilmAmerican Drive-Inas Allison1985TVThe Golden Girlsas Mrs. Leonard1985TVMoonlightingas Mrs. Baer1982TVNewhartas Dorothy Benson