Lady Rowlands (born Mary Allen Neal; April 12, 1904 – May 28, 1999) was an American film actress. Most of her work came in the films of John Cassavetes, who was married to her daughter, actress Gena Rowlands.
Lady Rowlands | |
|---|---|
| Born | Mary Allen Neal April 12, 1904 Fort Smith, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Died | May 28, 1999 (aged 95) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2, including Gena Rowlands |
| Family | Nick Cassavetes (grandson) Alexandra Cassavetes (granddaughter) Zoe Cassavetes (granddaughter) |
Life and career
editRowlands was the daughter of Tennessee Virginia (née Hickey) and William Joel Neal, who was of Irish descent. She was married to Edwin Myrwyn Rowlands, a Welsh-American 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 actors and film directors.
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Minnie and Moskowitz | Georgia Moore | |
| 1974 | Unwed Father | TV movie | |
| The Teacher | Gossiping Lady 2 | ||
| A Woman Under the Influence | Martha Mortensen | ||
| 1977 | Opening Night | Melva Drake | |
| 1978 | Dr. Strange | Mrs. Sullivan | |
| 1991 | Ted & Venus | Linda's Grandmother | (final film role) |
References
edit- ^ a b c Carney, Ray (2001). Cassavetes on Cassavetes. Faber & Faber. pp. 28–29.
- ^ Carney, Ray (2001). Cassavetes on Cassavetes. Faber & Faber. p. 393.