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.

Life and career

Rowlands was the daughter of Tennessee Virginia (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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