Introduction
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, 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. 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.
Rowlands later moved to California along with her daughter and son-in-law, actor John Cassavetes. 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. 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).
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
- Minnie and Moskowitz (1971) - Georgia Moore
- Unwed Father (1974)
- The Teacher (1974) - Gossiping Lady 2
- A Woman Under the Influence (1974) - Martha Mortensen
- Opening Night (1977) - Melva Drake
- Dr. Strange (1978) - Mrs. Sullivan
- Ted & Venus (1991) - Linda's Grandmother (final film role)