Lady Rowlands

Lady Rowlands (born Mary Allen Neal; April 12, 1904 – May 28, 1999) was an Irish-American film actress. Most of her work came in the films of John Cassavetes, who was married to her daughter, the Academy Award-nominated and four-time Emmy Award-winning actress Gena Rowlands.

Lady Rowlands
Born
Mary Ellen Neal

(1904-04-12)April 12, 1904
Fort Smith, Arkansas, U.S.
DiedMay 28, 1999(1999-05-28) (aged 95)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
OccupationActress
Spouse(s)Edwin Myrwyn Rowlands
Children2, including Gena Rowlands
FamilyGrandchildren:
Nick Cassavetes
Alexandra Cassavetes
Zoe Cassavetes

Life and career

Rowlands was the daughter of Tennessee Virginia (née Hickey) and William Joel Neal of Irish descent. She was married to Edwin Myrwyn Rowlands, a banker and statesman, with whom she lived in Cambria, Wisconsin. They had two children, David and Virginia (later known as Gena Rowlands). She lived as a housewife, but practiced music, acting, and painting as hobbies.[1]

Rowlands later moved to California along with her daughter and son-in-law, actor John Cassavetes.[1] Cassavetes began directing films, and cast Rowlands in three of his pictures. She adopted the screen-name "Lady Rowlands", a nickname given by her grandchildren.[1] In Minnie and Moskowitz (1971) and A Woman Under the Influence (1974), she played the mother of her real-life daughter. Her home was used for the filming of Faces (1968) and The Killing of a Chinese Bookie (1976).[2]

Aside from her work with Cassavetes, Rowlands also appeared in two television movies and had a role in the film Ted & Venus (1991).

Her grandchildren, Nick Cassavetes, Alexandra Cassavetes, and Zoe Cassavetes, are all film directors.

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1971Minnie and MoskowitzGeorgia Moore
1974Unwed FatherTV movie
1974The TeacherGossiping Lady 2
1974A Woman Under the InfluenceMartha Mortensen
1977Opening NightMelva Drake
1978Dr. StrangeMrs. Sullivan
1991Ted & VenusLinda's Grandmother(final film role)

References
  1. Carney, Ray (2001). Cassavetes on Cassavetes. Faber & Faber. pp. 28–29.
  2. Carney, Ray (2001). Cassavetes on Cassavetes. Faber & Faber. p. 393.
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