'Rapping Granny' Ellen Albertini Dow Passes Away At Age 101

She didn't make her debut until she'd reached her 70s, but Ellen Albertini Dow, who passed away on Monday, 4 May, at the impressive age of 101, made a heck of an impact in her nearly three decades on screen with a wealth of character work that frequently shattered stereotypes about the elderly.

The news was broken by Deadline, who confirmed the actress' passing with manager Juliet Green.

Despite being active for more than 25 years (in front of a camera, at least; Dow held a bachelor's degree and master's degree in Arts, majoring in theatre, from Cornell University, worked as an acting coach until 1985 and had studied dance and music since she was five years old), Dow is arguably best remembered for her unforgettable appearance as Rosie, the 'rapping granny', in 1998's The Wedding Singer, back when Adam Sandler could still make a passable movie.

In addition to her enduring spot in The Wedding Singer, Dow also appeared in a diverse range of TV and film titles during her career, from early roles on the '80s update of The Twilight Zone and Moonlighting to performing in the Sister Act films, on Star Trek: The Next Generation, and a raft of '90s sitcoms such as Sabrina, The Teenage Witch, Ned & Stacey, Seinfeld, Cybill and Family Matters. More recently, she featured in teen comedy Road Trip (2000) and Wedding Crashers (2005).

Her last role was as Dora in 2013 thriller East Of Acadia, starring Rachel Miner, William Sadler and Chris Sarandon. No cause of death has been revealed.