Personal Info
Birth date
1913-11-16 (111 Years)
Day of death
2015-05-04
Gender
Female
Known for
Acting
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.
Filmography
Family Guy
7.4
Overview:
Sick, twisted, politically incorrect and Freakin' Sweet animated series featuring the adventures of the dysfunctional Griffin family. Bumbling Peter and long-suffering Lois have three kids. Stewie (a brilliant but sadistic baby bent on killing his mother and taking over the world), Meg (the oldest, and is the most unpopular girl in town) and Chris (the middle kid, he's not very bright but has a passion for movies). The final member of the family is Brian - a talking dog and much more than a pet, he keeps Stewie in check whilst sipping Martinis and sorting through his own life issues.American Dad!
6.975
Overview:
The series focuses on an eccentric motley crew that is the Smith family and their three housemates: Father, husband, and breadwinner Stan Smith; his better half housewife, Francine Smith; their college-aged daughter, Hayley Smith; and their high-school-aged son, Steve Smith. Outside of the Smith family, there are three additional main characters, including Hayley's boyfriend turned husband, Jeff Fischer; the family's man-in-a-goldfish-body pet, Klaus; and most notably the family's zany alien, Roger, who is "full of masquerades, brazenness, and shocking antics."Sabrina, the Teenage Witch
7.812
Overview:
On her sixteenth birthday, Sabrina Spellman discovers she has magical powers. She lives with her 600-year-old aunts Hilda and Zelda as well as talking cat Salem in the fictional town of Westbridge, Massachusetts.Star Trek: The Next Generation
8.368
Overview:
Follow the intergalactic adventures of Capt. Jean-Luc Picard and his loyal crew aboard the all-new USS Enterprise NCC-1701D, as they explore new worlds.Seinfeld
8.257
Overview:
A stand-up comedian and his three offbeat friends weather the pitfalls and payoffs of life in New York City in the '90s. It's a show about nothing.Shameless
8.16
Overview:
Chicagoan Frank Gallagher is the proud single dad of six smart, industrious, independent kids, who without him would be... perhaps better off. When Frank's not at the bar spending what little money they have, he's passed out on the floor. But the kids have found ways to grow up in spite of him. They may not be like any family you know, but they make no apologies for being exactly who they are.My Name Is Earl
7.666
Overview:
When petty criminal Earl Hickey wins the lottery, he sets off on a quest to repair his questionable karma.Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction
7.2
Overview:
Can you tell the difference between fact and fiction? Several stories of strange, mysterious and incredible occurrences are chronicled during each episode. It is up to the viewer to decide which stories actually happened and which were completely fabricated by the show’s writers. The answer is revealed by Jonathan Frakes at the conclusion of each episode.Newhart
7.104
Overview:
Dick Loudon and his wife Joanna decide to leave life in New York City and buy a little inn in Vermont. Dick is a how-to book writer, who eventually becomes a local TV celebrity as host of "Vermont Today." George Utley is the handyman at the inn and Leslie Vanderkellen is the maid, with ambitions of being an Olympic Ski champion; she is later replaced by her cousin Stephanie, an heiress who hates her job. Her boyfriend is Dick's yuppie TV producer, Michael Harris. There are many other quirky characters in this fictional little town, including Dick's neighbors Larry, Darryl, and Darryl...three brothers who buy the Minuteman Cafe from Kirk Devane. Besides sharing a name, Darryl and Darryl never speak.The Nanny
8.066
Overview:
Fran, fresh out of her job as a bridal consultant in her boyfriend’s shop, first appears on the doorstep of Broadway producer Maxwell Sheffield peddling cosmetics, and quickly stumbled upon the opportunity to become The Nanny for his three children. But soon Fran, with her offbeat nurturing and no-nonsense honesty, touches Maxwell as well as the kids.The Wonder Years
8.32
Overview:
The story of Kevin Arnold facing the trials and tribulations of youth while growing up during the 1960s and 70s. Told through narration from an adult Kevin, Kevin faces the difficulties of maintaining relationships and friendships on his enthralling journey into adulthood.Murphy Brown
6.5
Overview:
Murphy Brown (Candice Bergen) is a recovering alcoholic who returns to the fictional newsmagazine FYI for the first time following a stay at the Betty Ford Clinic residential treatment center. Over 40 and single, she is sharp tongued and hard as nails. In her profession, she is considered one of the boys, having shattered many glass ceilings encountered during her career. Dominating the FYI news magazine, she is portrayed as one of America's hardest-hitting (though not the warmest or more sympathetic) media personalities.Las Vegas
7
Overview:
Ed Deline is a strict ex-CIA officer who went from being Head of Security to becoming President of Operations of the Montecito, whose job is to run the day-to-day operations of the casino. Following his departure, former Marine Danny McCoy, Ed's former protégé, becomes the Montecito's new President of Operations.ER
7.828
Overview:
ER explores the inner workings of an urban teaching hospital and the critical issues faced by the dedicated physicians and staff of its overburdened emergency room.Just Shoot Me!
6.6
Overview:
See the inner workings of a high-style magazine owned by Jack Gallo, who has hired his quick-tempered but talented daughter, Maya, to write for the publication. Challenging her at every turn is Nina, a vain and superficial former model. Then there's photographer Elliot, a man who is very popular with his portrait subjects as well as other women. completing the core staff is her father's assistant, Dennis, a glorified secretary who is generally disrespectful to one and all.The Golden Girls
7.5
Overview:
Four Southern Florida seniors share a house, their dreams, and a whole lot of cheesecake. Bright, promiscuous, clueless and hilarious, these lovely, mismatched ladies form the perfect circle of friends.Will & Grace
6.855
Overview:
Will Truman and Grace Adler are best friends living in New York, and when Grace's engagement falls apart, she moves in with Will. Together, along with their friends, they go through the trials of dating, sex, relationships and their careers, butting heads at times but ultimately supporting one another while exchanging plenty of witty banter along the way.The Twilight Zone
7.762
Overview:
This 1980s revival of the classic sci-fi series features a similar style to the original anthology series. Each episode tells a tale (sometimes two or three) rooted in horror or suspense, often with a surprising twist at the end. Episodes usually feature elements of drama and comedy.Scrubs
8.01
Overview:
In the unreal world of Sacred Heart Hospital, John "J.D." Dorian learns the ways of medicine, friendship and life.Family Matters
6.746
Overview:
A long-running dramedy centering on the Winslow family, a middle-class African American family living in Chicago, and their pesky next-door neighbor, ultra-nerd Steve Urkel. A spin-off of Perfect Strangers.Cold Case
7.774
Overview:
The Philadelphia homicide squad's lone female detective finds her calling when she is assigned cases that have never been solved. Detective Lilly Rush combines her natural instincts with the updated technology available today to bring about justice for all the victims she can.Quantum Leap
8
Overview:
Theorizing that one could time travel within his own lifetime, Dr. Sam Beckett stepped into the Quantum Leap accelerator and vanished... He woke to find himself trapped in the past, facing mirror images that were not his own and driven by an unknown force to change history for the better. His only guide on this journey is Al, an observer from his own time, who appears in the form of a hologram that only Sam can see and hear. And so Dr. Beckett finds himself leaping from life to life, striving to put right what once went wrong and hoping each time that his next leap will be the leap home.Moonlighting
7.5
Overview:
After being duped and going bankrupt, model Maddie is convinced by David to become a partner in a detective agency. Together they solve various cases, while getting comfortable with each other.Six Feet Under
8.103
Overview:
When death is your business, what is your life? For the Fisher family, the world outside of their family-owned funeral home continues to be at least as challenging as—and far less predictable than—the one inside.New Girl
7.348
Overview:
Jessica Day is an offbeat and adorable girl in her late 20s who, after a bad breakup, moves in with three single guys. Goofy, positive, vulnerable and honest to a fault, Jess has faith in people, even when she shouldn't. Although she's dorky and awkward, she's comfortable in her own skin. More prone to friendships with women, she's not used to hanging with the boys—especially at home.Sister, Sister
7.134
Overview:
Twins Tia Landry and Tamera Campbell were separated and adopted at birth. Fourteen years later, they encounter each other by chance at the mall. After the families meet, Tia's widowed father agrees to let Tamera and her single mother move in with them.Dave's World
6.4
Overview:
Dave's World is an American sitcom that aired on CBS from 1993 to 1997. The series is based on the writing of Miami Herald columnist Dave Barry.The John Larroquette Show
6.7
Overview:
The John Larroquette Show is an American television sitcom .The show was a vehicle for John Larroquette following his run as Dan Fielding on Night Court. The series takes place in a seedy bus terminal in St. Louis, Missouri and originally focused on the somewhat broken people who worked the night shift, and in particular, the lead character's battle with alcoholism.Hannah Montana
7.124
Overview:
At home and school, she's Miley Stewart, a typical teenager, but when the lights go down and the curtain goes up, she emerges as the glamorous and talented Hannah Montana. Having the "Best of Both Worlds" is a complicated proposition, and keeping her identity under wraps leads Miley and her friends into some hilarious capers as she tries to balance her normal life with her rock star persona.Judging Amy
7.5
Overview:
Judging Amy is an American television drama that was telecast from September 19, 1999, through May 3, 2005, on CBS-TV. This TV series starred Amy Brenneman and Tyne Daly. Its main character is a judge who serves in a family court, and in addition to the family-related cases that she adjudicates, many episodes of the show focus on her own experiences as a divorced mother, and on the experiences of her mother, a social worker who works in the field of child welfare. This series was based on the life experiences of Brenneman's mother.Acting
2015Frank the Bastard as Dora
2011Not Another Not Another Movie as Rose
2011New Girl (1 Episode) as Aunt Ruthie
2011Shameless (1 Episode) as The Real Aunt Ginger
2010The Invited as Natalie Shaw
2009Without a Paddle: Nature's Calling as Mrs. Bessler
2007In Case of Emergency (1 Episode) as Unknown
2007The Blue Hour as Unknown
2006Fat Girls as Mildred
2006Hannah Montana (1 Episode) as Kathrine McCord
2005My Name Is Earl (1 Episode) as Gertrude Balboa
2005Wedding Crashers as Grandma Mary Cleary
2005American Dad! (1 Episode) as Helen Washburn (voice)
2005Annie's Point as Louise Tette
2004Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide (1 Episode) as Mrs. Knapp
2003Cold Case (1 Episode) as Audrey Abruzzi (2007)
2003Las Vegas (1 Episode) as Unknown
2002Eight Crazy Nights as See's Candies Box (voice)
2001Longshot as Ms. Fleisher
2001Scrubs (1 Episode) as Betty
2001Six Feet Under (1 Episode) as Roberta
2000Nikki (1 Episode) as Miss Marie
2000Road Trip as Barry's Grandma
2000Ready to Rumble as Mrs. MacKenzie
1999Judging Amy (1 Episode) as Mrs. Powell
1999Payne (3 Episodes) as Flo
1999Family Guy (1, 1 Episode) as Elderly Woman (voice), Aunt Helen (voice)
1998Patch Adams as Aggie
1998Will & Grace (1 Episode) as Sylvia Walker
199854 as Disco Dottie
1998Carnival of Souls as Mrs. Meltzer
1998The Wedding Singer as Rosie
1997Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction (1 Episode) as Connie Howard (segment "Mystery Lock")
1997Just Shoot Me! (1 Episode) as Mrs. Gallo
1996Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (1 Episode) as Old Lady
1996Suddenly Susan (1 Episode) as Lily
1995Murder One (2 Episodes) as Unknown
1995Ned and Stacey (3 Episodes) as Mrs. Porter
1995Problem Child 3 as Lila Duvane
1995Hope and Gloria (1 Episode) as Miss Mae
1995Cybill (1 Episode) as Unknown
1994Radioland Murders as Organist
1994ER (1 Episode) as Mrs. Riblet
1994On Our Own (1 Episode) as Little Old Lady #1
1994Sister, Sister (1 Episode) as Betty
1993Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit as Choir Nun
1993The Nanny (1 Episode) as Wendell Kent's Mother (uncredited)
1993Dave's World (1 Episode) as Craft Granny
1993The John Larroquette Show (1 Episode) as Old Woman
1992Hearts Afire (1 Episode) as Miss Abbington
1992Sister Act as Choir Nun
1992Memoirs of an Invisible Man as Mrs. Coulson
1992Space Case as Betsy
1990My Blue Heaven as Nun
1990Wings (1 Episode) as Debbie
1989Christine Cromwell (1, 1 Episode) as Lydia, Nanny
1989Family Matters (4 Episodes) as Unknown
1989Seinfeld (1 Episode) as Momma
1989Quantum Leap (1 Episode) as Grandma
1988Murphy Brown (1 Episode) as Aunt Belle
1988Going to the Chapel as Grandma Haldane
1988The Wonder Years (1 Episode) as Mrs. Tambora
1987Star Trek: The Next Generation (1 Episode) as Felisa
1987Beauty and the Beast (1 Episode) as Unknown
1987Munchies as Little Old Lady
1985The Twilight Zone (1, 1 Episode) as (segment "Need to Know"), (segment "The Storyteller")
1985The Golden Girls (1, 1, 1 Episode) as Mrs. Leonard, Lillian, Sarah
1985Moonlighting (1 Episode) as Mrs. Baer
1982Newhart (1, 1 Episode) as Unknown, Dorothy Benson