Gena Rowlands, recognized as one of the most acclaimed actresses in the film industry and a significant figure in independent cinema, has passed away at the age of 94. Rowlands, who starred in influential films directed by her husband John Cassavetes, gained later fame with her role in the emotional blockbuster “The Notebook,” directed by her son Nick Cassavetes.
Her death was confirmed on Wednesday by representatives for Nick Cassavetes, who had disclosed earlier this year that Rowlands was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Reports indicate that she died at her home in Indian Wells, California.
Throughout her career, Rowlands and Cassavetes collaborated on ten films over a span of four decades, producing powerful narratives centered on working-class struggles in films like “A Woman Under the Influence,” “Gloria,” and “Faces.” She received two Academy Award nominations for her exceptional performances in “A Woman Under the Influence,” where she portrayed a wife grappling with the challenges of domestic life, and “Gloria,” which tells the story of a woman helping a young boy escape from the mob.
In addition to her Oscar nominations, Rowlands won three Primetime Emmy Awards, a Daytime Emmy, and two Golden Globes. In 2015, she received an honorary Academy Award that acknowledged her vast contributions to cinema. During her acceptance speech, she remarked on the beauty of acting, saying, “You know what’s wonderful about being an actress? You don’t just live one life; you live many lives.”
Rowlands captivated a new audience through her poignant performance in “The Notebook,” playing a woman with deteriorating memory reflecting on a timeless romance, alongside Rachel McAdams, who portrayed her younger self. She also worked with her son on “Unhook the Stars” in 1996.
In her later career, Rowlands made appearances in various films and television series, including “The Skeleton Key” and “Monk,” with her last film role in “Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks” in 2014, where she played a retiree forming a friendship with her dance instructor.
Born Virginia Cathryn Rowlands in 1930 in Cambria, Wisconsin, she grew up in a family that supported her ambitions. After leaving college to pursue acting in New York, she made significant strides in live television dramas. Her breakthrough came when she was cast opposite Edward G. Robinson in the play “Middle of the Night,” which led to a contract with MGM.
Rowlands eventually chose to focus on her family, taking breaks from filming to raise her children. She had a deep commitment to her family, and following her husband John Cassavetes’ death in 1989, she returned to acting to cope with her grief.
Virginia Rowlands continued to participate in the film community, often expressing her desire for audiences to experience her late husband’s work, highlighting his unique vision and fearlessness as a filmmaker. Throughout her life, Rowlands left a lasting legacy, known for portraying complex female characters and influencing the landscape of modern cinema.