Gena Rowlands, the celebrated actress recognized for her powerful performances in films such as “A Woman Under the Influence,” “Gloria,” and “The Notebook,” has passed away at the age of 94.
Her son, director Nick Cassavetes, shared in June 2024 that Rowlands had been battling Alzheimer’s disease for the past five years. The news of her death was confirmed by The Associated Press.
Rowlands, a four-time Emmy winner, two-time Golden Globe recipient, and Honorary Academy Award honoree, enjoyed a career that spanned almost seventy years in theater, film, and television. She was particularly known for her work alongside her late husband, actor and director John Cassavetes, earning Academy Award nominations for her leading roles in his films, “A Woman Under the Influence” and “Gloria.”
Born Virginia Cathryn Rowlands on June 19, 1930, in Cambria, Wisconsin, she studied drama in New York City and started with repertory theater companies. She made her Broadway debut in 1953’s “The Seven Year Itch.” Rowlands first met John Cassavetes at the American Academy for Dramatic Arts, marrying him just months after their initial encounter in 1954.
Her film career began with “The High Cost of Living” in 1958, and she appeared in numerous notable productions, including “A Child Is Waiting,” which was directed by Cassavetes. Their collaboration continued for years, culminating in the acclaimed film “Faces” in 1968.
One of her standout performances came in the 1974 film “A Woman Under the Influence,” directed by Cassavetes, for which she received a Golden Globe and an Academy Award nomination. She earned a second Oscar nomination for her role in the 1980 film “Gloria.”
Rowlands and Cassavetes’ final collaboration was in the 1984 film “Love Streams.” Outside of her work with him, she also garnered acclaim for playing Betty Ford in the 1987 TV movie “The Betty Ford Story,” which won her an Emmy and a Golden Globe.
Her later career included appearances in films like “Hope Floats” and the widely successful “The Notebook” in 2004, which was directed by her son, Nick. In “The Notebook,” she portrayed the elderly version of a character originally played by Rachel McAdams, earning new admirers from a younger generation.
Throughout her lifetime, Rowlands made notable guest appearances on several popular television series and continued to work consistently until her last credited role in 2014’s “Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks.” A year later, she received an Honorary Academy Award celebrating her extensive contributions to the film industry.
Gena Rowlands is remembered for her impactful performances and is survived by her three children: Nick, Alexandra, and Zoe, all of whom have followed in her footsteps in the entertainment industry.