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When audiences saw the trailer for the romantic comedy film "The Wedding Singer" (1998), many took note of the petite elderly woman performing "Rapper's Delight" and asked "Who is she?" The answer is Ellen Albertini Dow, a veteran of NYC's Yiddish theater and a former drama teacher in L.A. Although coy about her age, Dow has been playing feisty old women since she resumed her acting career in the mid-1980s with a chilling turn as a mass murderer on an episode of "The Twilight Zone" (CBS, 1985)....

Filmography

Untitled (Green Flash/McKinney Project) - ( - Cast / / Announced / )
Lonely Street - ( Lydia the Librarian / / Lensing/Awaiting Release / )
Fat Girls - ( Mildred / 2007 / Released / )
Wedding Crashers - ( Grandma Mary Cleary / 2005 / Released / )
Adam Sandler's Eight Crazy Nights - ( Voice of See's Candies Box / 2002 / Released / )
Long Shot - ( Mrs. Fleisher (as Ellen Dow) / 2002 / Released / )
Ready to Rumble - ( Mrs MacKenzie / 2000 / Released / )
Road Trip - ( Barry's Grandma / 2000 / Released / )
The Minus Man - ( Special Thanks / 1999 / Released / )
54 - ( Disco Dottie / 1998 / Released / Forum Film Limited )
Patch Adams - ( Aggie / 1998 / Released / )
The Wedding Singer - ( Rosie / 1998 / Released / Alliance Releasing )
The Wedding Singer - ( Song Performer / 1998 / Released / Alliance Releasing )
Radioland Murders - ( Organist / 1994 / Released / )
Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit - ( Choir Nun / 1993 / Released / )
Memoirs of An Invisible Man - ( Mrs Coulson / 1992 / Released / )
Sister Act - ( Choir Nun / 1992 / Released / )
Blood and Concrete - A Love Story - ( Old Lady / 1991 / Released / )
Genuine Risk - ( Receptionist / 1990 / Released / )
My Blue Heaven - ( Nun / 1990 / Released / Village Roadshow Pictures Worldwide )
Munchies - ( Little Old Lady / 1987 / Released / Cinema Group Entertainment )
Tough Guys - ( Old Lady / 1986 / Released / )
TV Credits
In Case of Emergency ( 2007 / Released ): Actor
Out of Jimmy's Head ( 2007 / Released ): Actor
Hannah Montana ( 2006 / Released ): Actor
American Dad ( 2005 / Released ): Voice
Annie's Point ( 2005 / Released ): Actor
My Name is Earl ( 2005 / Released ): Actor
Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide ( 2004 / Released ): Actor
A Minute With Stan Hooper ( 2003 / Released ): Actor
Cold Case ( 2003 / Released ): Actor
Las Vegas ( 2003 / Released ): Actor
Maybe It's Me ( 2001 / Released ): Actor
TV Episode Grandma Harriet

TV Episode Grandma Harriet

TV Episode Grandma Harriet

TV Episode Grandma Harriet

TV Episode Grandma Harriet

Scrubs ( 2001 / Released ): Actor
Six Feet Under ( 2001 / Released ): Actor
Yes, Dear ( 2000 / Released ): Actor
Family Guy ( 1999 / Released ): Voice
GvsE ( 1999 / Released ): Actor
Payne ( 1999 / Released ): Actor
Will & Grace ( 1998 / Released ): Actor
Just Shoot Me ( 1997 / Released ): Actor
Arli$$ ( 1996 / Released ): Actor
Ned and Stacey ( 1995 / Released ): Actor
Problem Child 3: Junior in Love ( 1995 / Released ): Actor
ER ( 1994 / Released ): Actor
On Our Own ( 1994 / Released ): Actor
The Boys Are Back ( 1994 / Released ): Actor
Second Chances ( 1993 / Released ): Actor
The Building ( 1993 / Released ): Actor
Frannie's Turn ( 1992 / Released ): Actor
K-9 ( 1991 / Released ): Actor
Easy Come, Easy Go ( 1989 / Released ): Actor
Seinfeld ( 1989 / Released ): Actor
Things That Go Bump in the Night ( 1989 / Released ): Actor
Wedding Day Blues ( 1988 / Released ): Actor
Designing Women ( 1986 / Released ): Actor
Clueless ( Released ): Actor
Cosby ( Released ): Actor
Cybill ( Released ): Actor
Dave's World ( Released ): Actor
Down the Shore ( Released ): Actor
Empty Nest ( Released ): Actor
Family Matters ( Released ): Actor
Hearts Afire ( Released ): Actor
Hope & Gloria ( Released ): Actor
Jack's Place ( Released ): Actor
Murphy Brown ( Released ): Actor
Nikki ( Released ): Actor
Quantum Leap ( Released ): Actor
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch ( Released ): Actor
Sister, Sister ( Released ): Actor
Sisters ( Released ): Actor
Suddenly Susan ( Released ): Actor
The John Larroquette Show ( Released ): Actor
Wings ( Released ): Actor
Full Biography (Back to top)

When audiences saw the trailer for the romantic comedy film "The Wedding Singer" (1998), many took note of the petite elderly woman performing "Rapper's Delight" and asked "Who is she?" The answer is Ellen Albertini Dow, a veteran of NYC's Yiddish theater and a former drama teacher in L.A. Although coy about her age, Dow has been playing feisty old women since she resumed her acting career in the mid-1980s with a chilling turn as a mass murderer on an episode of "The Twilight Zone" (CBS, 1985). Since then, she played small roles in numerous TV shows (e.g., "Family Matters", "The Golden Girls", "Murphy Brown") and a handful of films ("Tough Guys" 1986; "Sister Act" 1992). Dow offered a memorable guest turn on a 1995 episode of "Seinfeld" as J Peterman's elderly mother. But it was her performance as a woman celebrating her 50th wedding anniversary who surprises her guests with a hip-hop number that made people take notice. Director Frank Coraci had cast Dow primarily on the strength of her rendition of the 1959 classic "Til There Was You" which she also performed in the film. Audiences were primed for her appearance as a cocaine-snorting oldster in the disco-flavored "54" (also 1998).

Profession(s):
Actor, drama teacher
Sometimes Credited As:
Ellen Albertini
Ellen Dow
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Family
husband:Eugene Dow (married in 1951)

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Education
Cornell University Ithaca, New York BFA drama
Cornell University Ithaca, New York MFA drama
Milestones (Back to top)
2001 Had regular role as a grandmother on the fall sitcom "Maybe It's Me" (The WB)
1998 Garnered attention for her supporting performance in "The Wedding Singer"
1998 Played a cocaine-snorting senior citizen in "54"
1995 Made memorable guest appearance on NBC's "Seinfeld" as thee dying mother of J Peterman
1993 Reprised role as a choir nun in "Sister Act 2"
1992 Appeared as one of the nuns in the choir in "Sister Act"
1990 First played a nun in "My Blue Heaven"
1988 Appeared in the TV-movie "Wedding Day Blues"
1986 Had bit role in "Tough Guys"
1985 Resumed acting career with appearance as a mass murderer on an episode of "The Twilight Zone" (CBS)
1952 Moved to Los Angeles with her husband
1938 - 1950 Worked in theater in NYC, including appearances in Yiddish theater
Born and raised in Pennsylvania
Taught drama, dance and mime for 32 years at Los Angeles City College and Pierce College


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