Gena Rowlands, celebrated as one of the finest actresses in film history and a pivotal figure in independent cinema, has passed away at the age of 94. Her son, filmmaker Nick Cassavetes, confirmed her death on Wednesday, revealing that she had been battling Alzheimer’s disease. Rowlands died at her home in Indian Wells, California.
Rowlands was a prominent collaborator with her late husband, director John Cassavetes, and together they produced iconic films such as “A Woman Under the Influence,” “Gloria,” and “Faces,” which depicted the lives of working-class individuals. Throughout her career, Rowlands worked on ten films with Cassavetes over four decades, including notable titles such as “Minnie and Moskowitz,” “Opening Night,” and “Love Streams.”
Rowlands received two Academy Award nominations for her powerful performances in “A Woman Under the Influence” (1974) and “Gloria” (1980). In various interviews, Rowlands spoke about Cassavetes’ deep understanding of women’s experiences and the complex roles he created for them.
Rowlands’ accolades include three Primetime Emmy Awards, one Daytime Emmy, and two Golden Globe Awards. In 2015, she received an honorary Academy Award in recognition of her contributions to cinema, where she reflected on the unique experience of living many lives through her characters.
A new audience discovered Rowlands in her role in Nick Cassavetes’ romantic drama “The Notebook,” where she portrayed an older woman reminiscing about a passionate romance, with her younger self played by Rachel McAdams. Rowlands also participated in films like “The Skeleton Key” and the TV series “Monk.” Her final film appearance came in 2014, in “Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks.”
Rowlands’ character in “A Woman Under the Influence,” a struggling housewife, showcased her ability to embody vulnerability, while in “Gloria,” she played a woman faced with the challenges of her past.
Gena Rowlands met John Cassavetes while both were at the American School of Dramatic Arts and they wed shortly after. In the early days of their careers, Cassavetes used his earnings from television to self-finance his first film, “Shadows,” which was lauded for its realistic portrayal of life.
Born Virginia Cathryn Rowlands in 1930 in Cambria, Wisconsin, she grew up in a supportive family that encouraged her ambition to act. She left the University of Wisconsin to pursue her career in New York, gaining experience in televised dramas before eventually taking on film roles that showcased her talent.
Rowlands made a name for herself in a variety of films, including “Lonely Are the Brave,” “A Child Is Waiting,” and “Tempest,” and later took on challenging roles in Woody Allen’s “Another Woman” and the groundbreaking TV movie “An Early Frost,” about a mother coping with her son’s AIDS diagnosis. Even in her later years, Rowlands continued to reflect on her diverse roles and the characters she portrayed throughout her impressive career.