Gena Rowlands, a prominent figure in 1970s independent cinema, has passed away at the age of 94. Her death was confirmed by Danny Greenberg, the representative for her son, Nick Cassavetes, although no further details were released.
Rowlands was born in 1930 into a politically active family in Wisconsin. She described her childhood as being filled with sickness and selective eating, but credited her creative mother for inspiring her artistic spirit. In a 1996 interview, she recounted a memory of her mother ingeniously presenting a carrot as a goldfish to encourage her to eat.
In 1950, Rowlands moved to New York to study acting at the American Academy of the Dramatic Arts, where she met future husband John Cassavetes. Although she initially dropped out to pursue acting on stage, the couple married in 1954 and began collaborating in commercial television. Rowlands became known for breathing life into complex characters, while Cassavetes gained recognition as a unique independent director.
Throughout their marriage, they created ten films together before Cassavetes’ death in 1989. Many of their works were filmed at their home in Los Angeles, featuring friends like Peter Falk. One of their most acclaimed films, “A Woman Under the Influence,” showcased Rowlands as a troubled housewife struggling to connect with her husband.
Rowlands received Oscar nominations for her performances in “A Woman Under the Influence” and the 1980 film “Gloria,” which was originally written for another actress. She successfully persuaded Cassavetes to direct “Gloria,” and enjoyed her role in the crime-themed narrative.
In 2015, Rowlands was honored with an honorary Oscar. She appeared in Cassavetes’ final film, “Love Streams,” and starred in significant television films, including “Early Frost,” a poignant portrayal of a mother dealing with a son diagnosed with AIDS. She collaborated with notable directors such as Woody Allen and Jim Jarmusch throughout her career.
Later in life, Rowlands worked with her children, including son Nick Cassavetes, in films such as “The Notebook,” where she played a character suffering from Alzheimer’s. In June 2024, Nick revealed that Rowlands herself had been diagnosed with dementia, sharing the family’s experience of navigating the illness.