Nada Rowand

{{Infobox person

| name = Nada Rowand

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1936|11|30}}

| occupation = Actress

| years_active = 1960-present

}}

Nada Rowand (born November 30, 1936){{Cite web |last=Newcomb |first=Roger |date=November 30, 2012 |title=Today in Soap Opera History (November 30) |url=https://www.welovesoaps.net/2012/11/history-november-30.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230925172647/https://www.welovesoaps.net/2012/11/history-november-30.html |archive-date=September 25, 2023 |access-date=September 27, 2024 |website=welovesoaps.net}} is an American actress. She is known for playing the role of Kate Rescott Slavinsky on the ABC daytime soap opera Loving (1984 to 1995). She has appeared on Broadway in The Unsinkable Molly Brown (1960), Walking Happy (1966), Richard III (1979), The Survivor (1981), and The Young Man from Atlanta (1997).

Early life

Rowand was born in Sparta, Illinois,{{Cite journal |last=Osen |first=Diane |date=January 1993 |title=Kid Stuff |journal=Episodes |pages=54}} and raised in Melvin. She was an only child. She began singing before she could talk. As a young girl, she loved performing and entered contests sponsored by the 4-H club. Rowand formed a music group with some of her high school friends called The Cloverettes. They were booked on The Original Amateur Hour, hosted by Ted Mack.

After high school, Rowand enrolled at the University of Illinois as a music major.{{Cite book |last1=Rout |first1=Nancy E. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yzQlimPTTEMC |title=The Soap Opera Book: Who's Who in Daytime Drama |last2=Buckley |first2=Ellen |publisher=Todd Publications |year=1992 |isbn=978-0-915344-23-9 |pages=236}} She moved to New York after graduation, intending to become an opera singer. When she didn't find success as a singer, she began working in musical theater.{{cite news|last1=Goudas|first1=John N.|title=Nada Rowland went from grand opera to soap opera|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/anonymous-celebrity-clipping-mar-05-1989-438350|access-date=27 October 2017|agency=King Features Syndicate|publisher=Altoona Mirror|date=5 March 1989}}

Career

In the early 1960s, Rowand performed on Broadway in Milk and Honey. The show's star, opera singer Robert Weede, became her mentor. She moved to San Francisco and studied with him, then went to Germany to establish an opera career. When her plans didn't work out, she decided to focus on acting. Rowand returned to New York and studied with Uta Hagen.

She had a singing role in the original Broadway production of The Unsinkable Molly Brown.{{Cite web |title=The Unsinkable Molly Brown |url=https://m.playbill.com/production/the-unsinkable-molly-brown-winter-garden-theatre-vault-0000011561 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240228134908/https://m.playbill.com/production/the-unsinkable-molly-brown-winter-garden-theatre-vault-0000011561 |archive-date=February 28, 2024 |access-date=October 1, 2024 |website=Playbill}} In 1966, she played a townswoman in the original Broadway production of Walking Happy.{{Cite web |title=Walking Happy |url=https://m.playbill.com/production/walking-happy-lunt-fontanne-theatre-vault-0000005071 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204131224/https://m.playbill.com/production/walking-happy-lunt-fontanne-theatre-vault-0000005071 |archive-date=December 4, 2023 |access-date=October 1, 2024 |website=Playbill}} Rowand's other stage credits include The Marriage of Figaro, Ladies in Waiting, Orlando, The Rainmaker, Hansel and Gretel, The Iceman Cometh, The Price, Mrs. Warren's Profession, Bells Are Ringing, Blithe Spirit, The Diary of Anne Frank, Dance of Death, The Man Who Came to Dinner, and Guys and Dolls.

In 1970 and 1972, she performed in USO tours in Vietnam. On television, she guest starred on Nancy and Bewitched.{{Cite web |title=Credits: Nada Rowand |url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/nada-rowand/credits/3030236319/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241001184355/https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/nada-rowand/credits/3030236319/ |archive-date=October 1, 2024 |access-date=October 1, 2024 |website=TV Guide}} Rowand played Mother in Doubletalk (1975), a drama about Alzheimer's disease. The production was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film.{{Cite web |title=Doubletalk - Full Cast & Crew |url=https://www.tvguide.com/movies/doubletalk/cast/2030340751/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241001185618/https://www.tvguide.com/movies/doubletalk/cast/2030340751/ |archive-date=October 1, 2024 |access-date=October 1, 2024 |website=TV Guide}} She also appeared in the film Super Seal (1975), co-starring with Sterling Holloway.{{Cite web |title=Super Seal |url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/498487/super-seal#credits |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241001190441/https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/498487/super-seal#credits |archive-date=October 1, 2024 |access-date=October 1, 2024 |website=Turner Classic Movies}} In 1978, she co-starred with Sylvester Stallone in the film F.I.S.T.{{Cite web |title=F.I.S.T. |url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/22946/fist#credits |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220610080027/https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/22946/fist#credits |archive-date=June 10, 2022 |access-date=October 1, 2024 |website=Turner Classic Movies}} Rowand returned to Broadway in 1979, as a "stand by" for the roles of Elizabeth and The Duchess of York in a revival of Richard III, starring Al Pacino.{{Cite web |title=Nada Rowand |url=https://m.playbill.com/person/nada-rowand-vault-0000049757 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241001191601/https://m.playbill.com/person/nada-rowand-vault-0000049757 |archive-date=October 1, 2024 |access-date=October 1, 2024 |website=Playbill}}

In 1980, for the Humana Festival at the Actors Theatre of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky, she appeared in two productions: in Adele Edling Shank's play Sunrise/Sunset as Louise, and as Yvonne in Kent Broadhurst's play They're Coming to Make It Brighter.

Rowand played Sevek's Mother in the original Broadway production of The Survivor, opening at the Morosco Theatre on March 3, 1981.{{Cite web |title=The Survivor |url=https://playbill.com/production/the-survivor-morosco-theatre-vault-0000002377 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231219160402/https://playbill.com/production/the-survivor-morosco-theatre-vault-0000002377 |archive-date=December 19, 2023 |access-date=October 1, 2024 |website=Playbill}}{{Cite web |last=Rich |first=Frank |date=March 4, 1981 |title=Stage: 'The Survivor,' Enduring Nazi Horror |url=http://www.nytimes.com/1981/03/04/theater/stage-the-survivor-enduring-nazi-horror.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180214102048/http://www.nytimes.com/1981/03/04/theater/stage-the-survivor-enduring-nazi-horror.html |archive-date=February 14, 2018 |access-date=October 1, 2024 |website=The New York Times}} In May 1981, she appeared as Marianne in Gethsemane Springs at the Spectrum Theater.{{Cite web |last=Gussow |first=Mel |date=May 26, 1981 |title=Theater: 'Gethsemane' Performed at Spectrum |url=http://www.nytimes.com/1981/05/26/science/theater-gethsemane-performed-at-spectrum.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524084106/http://www.nytimes.com/1981/05/26/science/theater-gethsemane-performed-at-spectrum.html |archive-date=May 24, 2015 |access-date=October 1, 2024 |website=The New York Times}} In December 1981, she played Helen in The Midnight Visitor at St. Peter's Hall.{{Cite web |last=Gussow |first=Mel |date=December 20, 1981 |title=Stage: Mystery in Verse |url=http://www.nytimes.com/1981/12/20/theater/stage-mystery-in-verse.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180125152343/http://www.nytimes.com/1981/12/20/theater/stage-mystery-in-verse.html |archive-date=January 25, 2018 |access-date=October 1, 2024 |website=The New York Times}}

In 1984, Rowand was cast as Kate Rescott on the ABC soap opera Loving. The character was a widow and the matriarch of a large family, including daughter Ava Rescott (Lisa Peluso). Kate owned a pie shop and converted her home into a boarding house. She eventually found love with Louie Slavinsky (Bernard Barrow).{{Cite journal |last=Johnson |first=Robin |date=May 14, 1991 |title=Tired of your old soap? Check it out: What you have to know to watch Loving |journal=Soap Opera Digest |volume=16 |issue=10 |pages=120}}

She appeared in the television film Blind Alleys (1985). She guest starred on Highway to Heaven and Kate & Allie. Rowand appeared in the film Masquerade (1988), co-starring with Rob Lowe.{{Cite web |title=Masquerade |url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/36538/masquerade/#credits |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220505080609/https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/36538/masquerade/#credits |archive-date=May 5, 2022 |access-date=October 2, 2024 |website=Turner Classic Movies}}

Rowand stayed on Loving until its final episode aired in November 1995. She guest starred on Law & Order. In 1997, she returned to Broadway in The Young Man from Atlanta, as an understudy for the roles of Lily Dale Kidder and Miss Lacey. In 2002, Rowand starred as Louise Nevelson in Embers at the Chelsea Playhouse.{{Cite web |last=Gates |first=Anita |date=February 1, 2002 |title=Theater Review; Louise Nevelson, Sacred Monster, Takes a Bow |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/01/movies/theater-review-louise-nevelson-sacred-monster-takes-a-bow.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608144448/https://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/01/movies/theater-review-louise-nevelson-sacred-monster-takes-a-bow.html |archive-date=June 8, 2021 |access-date=October 2, 2024 |website=The New York Times}} In July 2004, she appeared in the musical Mimi le Duck at the Adirondack Theatre Festival.{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Kenneth |date=July 21, 2004 |title=Annie Golden Stars as Mimi Le Duck for Adirondack Theatre Festival July 21–31 Prior to NYC Fringe |url=https://www.playbill.com/article/annie-golden-stars-as-mimi-le-duck-for-adirondack-theatre-festival-july-21-31-prior-to-nyc-fringe-com-120986 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211201035459/https://www.playbill.com/article/annie-golden-stars-as-mimi-le-duck-for-adirondack-theatre-festival-july-21-31-prior-to-nyc-fringe-com-120986 |archive-date=December 1, 2021 |access-date=October 2, 2024 |website=Playbill}}

In 2015, Rowand appeared as Elizabeth, an elderly mother with memory loss who has to contend with her fighting caretaker children, in Kate Hawley's play Complications from a Fall, which ran at Center Stage Theater in Santa Cruz, California.{{cite web |last=Engelhardt |first=Joanne |date=April 29, 2015 |title=Hawley's 'Complications From a Fall' a triumph for Jewel Theatre |url=http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/article/NE/20150429/FEATURES/150429663 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143447/http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/article/NE/20150429/FEATURES/150429663 |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |access-date=June 11, 2018 |website=Santa Cruz Sentinel}}

Personal life

In the 1980s, Rowand opened three stores, called Sonrisa, which sold works by contemporary Mexican artists and craftsmen. The stores were located in Taos, New Mexico and Los Angeles, California. Rowand's business partners looked after the shops while she worked on Loving.

Filmography

= Film =

class="wikitable"
Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes
rowspan="2"\|1975 \| Super Seal \| Mother \|Credited as Neda Rowand
Doubletalk \|Mother \|Short film
1978 \| F.I.S.T. \| Mrs. Vasko \|
1988 \| Masquerade \| Mrs. Chase \|

class="wikitable"

Year

! Title

! Role

! Notes

rowspan="2"|1975

| Super Seal

| Mother

|Credited as Neda Rowand

Doubletalk

|Mother

|Short film