Ellen Albertini Dow, best known as the "rapping granny" from the film The Wedding Singer has passed away at age 101.
Ms. Dow got her start on the stage, performing in The Catskills and teaching others how to act. She didn't begin her own career in film and television until relatively late in life. One of her first roles was in the Kirk Douglas/Burt Lancaster film Tough Guys where she played the unnamed character "Old Lady". Her next big role was as a choir nun in Sister Act, where she stood out from most of the other nuns.
Her biggest break, however came when she starred in The Wedding Singer as a sweet old lady who took voice lessons from Adam Sandler's character so that she could sing to her husband at their anniversary party. Having completed her sweet tribute to her husband, she then began a hilarious version of the Sugarhill Gang's "Rapper's Delight" which completely stole the show.
The attention she received brought her a seemingly endless amount of work. She quickly became the go-to actress for feisty old grandmother roles. Ms. Dow relished her late in life fame and adoring fans. Her smiling face and willingness to do just about anything for a laugh made her a legend and she will be sorely missed.
