Gena Rowlands, recognized as one of the greatest actresses in the history of cinema and a pivotal figure in independent film, has passed away at the age of 94. Her death was confirmed by her son, filmmaker Nick Cassavetes, who revealed earlier this year that she had been suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Rowlands died at her home in Indian Wells, California.
Throughout her career, Rowlands, alongside her husband John Cassavetes, who was also her director, depicted compelling narratives of everyday struggles in films such as “A Woman Under the Influence,” “Gloria,” and “Faces.” Together, they collaborated on ten films over four decades, producing acclaimed works like “Minnie and Moskowitz,” “Opening Night,” and “Love Streams.”
Rowlands received two Academy Award nominations for her performances in “A Woman Under the Influence,” where she portrayed a housewife overwhelmed by domestic pressures, and “Gloria,” in which she played a woman aiding a young boy in fleeing from gangsters.
Not only did she earn Oscar nominations, but Rowlands also received three Primetime Emmy Awards, a Daytime Emmy, and two Golden Globe Awards. In 2015, she was honored with an honorary Academy Award acknowledging her significant contributions to film.
A new generation of fans became acquainted with Rowlands through her role in her son’s romantic drama “The Notebook,” where she played an elderly woman reflecting on a profound past love, sharing the screen with Rachel McAdams as her younger self. Her film appearances continued into her later years, including roles in “The Skeleton Key” and the series “Monk,” with her final film performance in “Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks” in 2014.
Rowlands’ portrayal as a troubled housewife in “A Woman Under the Influence” and as a beleaguered former showgirl in “Gloria” defined her career, earning her acclaim and Oscar nominations for both performances.
Meeting at the American School of Dramatic Arts, Rowlands and Cassavetes married soon after starting their careers. Cassavetes later financed his first film, “Shadows,” from his work in television, marking the beginning of their pioneering collaboration in American cinema.
Rowlands’ acting career started in live television and off-Broadway plays. Her breakout role came when she was cast in Paddy Chayefsky’s play “Middle of the Night,” which led to an MGM contract, although she left due to family commitments.
In addition to Nick, Rowlands and Cassavetes raised two daughters, Alexandra and Zoe, both of whom pursued acting careers. Following John Cassavetes’s death in 1989, she returned to the screen while actively promoting his films and legacy.
Born Virginia Cathryn Rowlands in 1930 in Cambria, Wisconsin, Gena was inspired to act by her mother, leading her to leave university and pursue a career in New York’s theater scene. She developed her craft through live television dramas and gained recognition for her compelling performances across numerous films and shows.
Rowlands continued to take on challenging roles throughout her life, showcasing her enduring talent in projects such as Woody Allen’s “Another Woman” and the groundbreaking television film “An Early Frost,” where she tackled the social challenges surrounding AIDS.
Reflecting on her life and career in 1992, Rowlands expressed how vividly she remembered her roles, often contemplating the lives of the characters she portrayed during quiet, sleepless nights.