# Lady Rowlands

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**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](/source/John_Cassavetes), who was married to her daughter, actress [Gena Rowlands](/source/Gena_Rowlands).

## Life and career

Rowlands was the daughter of Tennessee Virginia (née Hickey) and William Joel Neal, who was of [Irish](/source/Irish_people) descent. She was married to [Edwin Myrwyn Rowlands](/source/Edwin_Myrwyn_Rowlands), a Welsh-American banker and statesman, with whom she lived in [Cambria, Wisconsin](/source/Cambria,_Wisconsin). They had two children, David and Virginia (later known as [Gena Rowlands](/source/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](/source/Minnie_and_Moskowitz)* (1971) and *[A Woman Under the Influence](/source/A_Woman_Under_the_Influence)* (1974), she played the mother of her real-life daughter. Her home was used for the filming of *[Faces](/source/Faces_(1968_film))* (1968) and *[The Killing of a Chinese Bookie](/source/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](/source/Ted_%26_Venus)* (1991).

Her grandchildren, [Nick Cassavetes](/source/Nick_Cassavetes), [Alexandra Cassavetes](/source/Alexandra_Cassavetes) and [Zoe Cassavetes](/source/Zoe_Cassavetes), are all actors and film directors.

## Filmography

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

1. Carney, Ray (2001). [*Cassavetes on Cassavetes*](https://archive.org/details/cassavetesoncass00cass). Faber & Faber. pp. [28–29](https://archive.org/details/cassavetesoncass00cass/page/28)

1. Carney, Ray (2001). [*Cassavetes on Cassavetes*](https://archive.org/details/cassavetesoncass00cass). Faber & Faber. p. [393](https://archive.org/details/cassavetesoncass00cass/page/393)

## External links

- [Lady Rowlands](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0746767/) at IMDb

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