Ellen Albertini Dow
American actress (1913-2015) · United States · On the map · Actors · Died at 101
Ellen Rose Albertini Dow was an American film and television character actress and drama coach. She portrayed feisty old ladies and is best known as the rapping grandmother Rosie in The Wedding Singer (1998), performing "Rapper's Delight".
Ellen Albertini Dow is read about 254 times a day, in 21 languages.
A typical day, 30 days to 6 November 2026
The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 104 days, one point a day.
Something wrong?A life in dates
Frank the BastardFilm, 2015Dora2011
New GirlSeries, Aunt Ruthie
Not Another Not Another MovieFilm, 2011Rose2009
Without a Paddle: Nature's CallingFilm, Mrs. Bessler2007
The Blue HourFilm, Anabella2005
American Dad!Series, Helen Washburn (voice)
Annie's PointFilm, 2005Louise Tette2003
Cold CaseSeries, Audrey Abruzzi (2007)2002
Eight Crazy NightsFilm, See's Candies Box (voice)2000
Ready to RumbleFilm, Mrs. MacKenzie1999
Family GuySeries, Elderly Woman (voice)1998
54Film, Disco Dottie1996
Sabrina, the Teenage WitchSeries, Old Lady1994
ERSeries, Mrs. Riblet
Radioland MurdersFilm, 1994Organist1993
Sister Act 2: Back in the HabitFilm, Choir Nun1991
Blood and ConcreteFilm, Old Lady1990
WingsSeries, Debbie
My Blue HeavenFilm, 1990Nun1988
The Wonder YearsSeries, Mrs. Tambora1987
Star Trek: The Next GenerationSeries, Felisa
MunchiesFilm, 1987Little Old Lady1985
American Drive-InFilm, Allison1982
NewhartSeries, Dorothy Benson1913Born26 November 1913People around Ellen
Close ties
Scott Rudin Produced Sister Act (1992)
Whoopi Goldberg Also in The Nanny and Sister Act
Jane Seymour Also in Wedding Crashers and My Name Is Earl
Kathryn Joosten Also in Wedding Crashers and My Name Is Earl
Greg Beeman Directed Problem Child 3: Junior in Love (1995)
Jon Lovitz Also in New Girl and Eight Crazy Nights
George Lucas Produced Radioland Murders (1994)
Maggie Smith Also in Sister Act (1992)
Goldie Hawn Produced My Blue Heaven (1992)
Betty White Also in My Name Is Earl and Annie's Point
Zooey Deschanel Directed New Girl
Bill Irwin Also in My Blue Heaven (1990)
DJ Qualls Also in My Name Is Earl and Road Trip
Harvey Korman Also in Munchies and Radioland Murders
Christine Taylor Also in My Name Is Earl and The Wedding Singer
Herbert Ross Directed My Blue Heaven (1992)
Lainie Kazan Also in The Nanny and Eight Crazy Nights
Rachel Miner Also in The Blue Hour and Frank the Bastard
Frank Coraci Directed The Wedding Singer (1998)- Pat Crawford Brown Also in Sister Act (1992)
Andrew Fleming Directed New Girl
Lorene Scafaria Directed New Girl
Kohl Sudduth Also in 54 and Road Trip
Michael Spiller Directed New Girl
Known for
View all 27 titles
Patch Adams 1998
The Wedding Singer 1998
Sister Act 1992
Wedding Crashers 2005
Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit 1993
Filmography 27
77 credits on file
Television 24
About this person
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 sitcoms The Golden Girls and Will & Grace.
