---
name: "Ellen Albertini Dow"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/ellen-albertini-dow"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "16 November 1913"
died: "4 May 2015"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 3
average_fi1m_score: 83
updated: "2026-09-16T21:21:05.261875+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Ellen Albertini Dow

Actor. Born 16 November 1913 in Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania, USA. Died 4 May 2015.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 16 November 1913, Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania, USA
- **Died:** 4 May 2015
- **Active:** 1985–2001
- **Also known as:** The Rapping Granny, The Rapping Grandmother 

## Biography

Ellen Albertini Dow was an American character actress and acting coach. She trained at Cornell University, graduating in 1935 with degrees in theatre, and worked as a drama and dance teacher for three decades before beginning her screen career in the 1980s.

Dow appeared in numerous films and television series, often playing feisty elderly women. She is best known for her role as the rapping grandmother Rosie in *The Wedding Singer* (1998), performing 'Rapper's Delight'. Other credits include choir nun in *Sister Act* (1992) and its 1993 sequel, Grandma Mary Cleary in *Wedding Crashers* (2005), Disco Dottie in *54* (1998), and Mrs. Baer in the series *Moonlighting* (1985).

She also had guest roles in series including *The Golden Girls*, *Seinfeld*, *Shameless* and *New Girl*. Dow was married to Eugene Francis Dow Jr. from 1951 until his death in 2004.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, deadline.com.*

## On Fi1m (3)

- *Six Feet Under* (2001), Fi1m 86, as Roberta — [page](https://film.one/tv/six-feet-under.md)
- *The Wonder Years* (1988), Fi1m 82, as Mrs. Tambora — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-wonder-years.md)
- *Moonlighting* (1985), Fi1m 82, as Mrs. Baer — [page](https://film.one/tv/moonlighting.md)

## Also known for

- *Wedding Crashers* (2005), Grandma Mary Cleary
- *Sister Act* (1992), Choir Nun
- *Patch Adams* (1998), Aggie
- *Shameless* (2011), The Real Aunt Ginger
- *American Dad!* (2005), Helen Washburn (voice)
- *Road Trip* (2000), Barry's Grandma
- *Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit* (1993), Choir Nun
- *The Wedding Singer* (1998), Rosie

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/ellen-albertini-dow