Gena Rowlands, Renowned Star of A Woman Under the Influence and The Notebook Passes Away at 94

Gena Rowlands, Renowned Star of A Woman Under the Influence and The Notebook Passes Away at 94

Gena Rowlands, the Oscar-nominated actress celebrated for her impactful collaborations with her late first husband, filmmaker John Cassavetes, passed away on Wednesday at her home in Indian Wells, California. She was 94 years old, as reported by PEOPLE.

Rowlands, born Virginia Cathryn Rowlands on June 19, 1930, in Cambria, Wisconsin, had a distinguished career that spanned several decades. She began her journey in the performing arts on the stage, working in repertory theater, national tours, and Broadway. Though she enjoyed a prolific television career, frequently appearing on popular shows of the 1950s and ’60s, it was her partnership with Cassavetes that propelled her into the spotlight as a critically acclaimed actress.

The couple, who married in 1954, collaborated on 10 films over the years, starting with A Child Is Waiting in 1963, where Rowlands played a small but significant role. Their most notable works include Faces, Minnie and Moskowitz, Opening Night, and Love Streams. Rowlands received two Oscar nominations for her unforgettable performances in A Woman Under the Influence and Gloria, films that remain benchmarks of modern acting. Despite never winning an Oscar, she was honored with an Academy Award for lifetime achievement in 2015.

In addition to her film work, Rowlands earned three Emmy Awards. She was recognized for her portrayal of former First Lady Betty Ford in the 1987 TV movie The Betty Ford Story and for her role in Mira Nair’s HBO film Hysterical Blindness. Her career continued into her later years, with one of her most memorable roles being the older version of Allie in The Notebook (2004), a film directed by her son, Nick Cassavetes. She also starred in her daughter Zoe Cassavetes’ 2007 indie film Broken English.

Rowlands’ acting career began on Broadway in the early 1950s with her debut in The Seven Year Itch. She went on to make numerous appearances on television series such as 87th Precinct, 77 Sunset Strip, Bonanza, and Alfred Hitchcock Presents. Her film debut came in 1958 with The High Cost of Loving, and she gained further attention in 1962’s Lonely Are the Brave, where she played the former lover of Kirk Douglas’ character.

The pinnacle of Rowlands’ career was undoubtedly her work with Cassavetes from 1963 to 1984. Her roles in A Woman Under the Influence as a mentally ill alcoholic and in Gloria as a gangster’s girlfriend on the run are still revered as some of the finest performances in cinema. Cassavetes, who regarded Rowlands as his muse, often wrote complex roles for her, delving into women’s issues and their societal challenges. “He loved actors, and he had a particular interest in women,” Rowlands once shared with The Hollywood Reporter in 2015. “He offered me some really wonderful parts.”

Rowlands also garnered praise for her role in Woody Allen’s Another Woman (1988), where she portrayed a woman facing an existential crisis. Her other notable works include The Incredible Mrs. Ritchie, Something to Talk About, The Skeleton Key, and guest appearances on shows like Numb3rs, Monk, and NCIS. Her final film appearance was in 2014’s Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks, an American-Hungarian co-production, after which she announced her retirement from acting.

Earlier this year, her son Nick Cassavetes revealed that Rowlands had been battling Alzheimer’s disease for the past five years, a poignant echo of her character in The Notebook. Rowlands and Cassavetes, who passed away in 1989, had three children together: Nick, Zoe, and Alexandra Cassavetes, an actress and director. Rowlands married businessman Robert Forrest in 2012, who survives her, along with her three children. Gena Rowlands leaves behind a legacy of remarkable performances and a profound impact on the art of filmmaking.

Gena Rowlands, Renowned Star of A Woman Under the Influence and The Notebook Passes Away at 94

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