Deadline reports that Ellen Albertini Dow, best known as the feisty grandma from THE WEDDING SINGER who performed "Rapper's Delight" in the 1998 Adam Sandler movie, passed away today at the age of 101. Her longtime agent Juliet Green confirmed the actress' death to the site but gave no further details.
Dow's other film roles included the elderly lady 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 member in Sister Act.
The actress studied acting with Michael Shurtleff and Uta Hagen, and worked with mimes Marcel Marceau and Jacques Lecoq in Paris. She performed comedy in the Borscht Belt and at the Second Avenue Theatre in New York with Menasha Skulnik and Molly Picon. She performed in summer stock companies on Long Island, New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina, and directed and choreographed stage productions such as The Beggar's Opera at Carnegie Recital Hall, The Magic Flute, and Julius Caesar with German musical director Hugo Strelitzer.
Her television work included appearances in such television series as Star Trek: The Next Generation, The Golden Girls, Just Shoot Me, Will & Grace, Seinfeld, Hannah Montana, Scrubs, Sister, Sister, According to Jim, Six Feet Under, and My Name is Earl. [bio source]
Below, watch Albertini's cover of "Rapper's Delight" from THE WEDDING SINGER:
