Legendary American actress Gena Rowlands has passed away at the age of 94, as confirmed by her son, filmmaker Nick Cassavetes. Earlier in June, Cassavetes shared that his mother, who had earned four Emmy Awards and two Golden Globes throughout her distinguished career, was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and had entered “full dementia.”
This revelation was particularly poignant given Rowlands’ iconic portrayal of a woman with Alzheimer’s in the 2004 film The Notebook, which was directed by her son. Reflecting on their shared experience, Cassavetes remarked on the surreal nature of living through the same illness that his mother had so powerfully depicted on screen.
Rowlands was renowned for her portrayals of strong, complex women, often working under the direction of her husband, John Cassavetes. Together, they operated outside of the traditional Hollywood studio system, creating raw and authentic portrayals of working-class life in films such as A Woman Under the Influence, Gloria, and Faces.
Over the span of four decades, the couple collaborated on 10 films, including Minnie and Moskowitz (1971), Opening Night (1977), and Love Streams (1984). Rowlands’ performances in A Woman Under the Influence and Gloria earned her two Academy Award nominations, solidifying her legacy as one of the most dynamic actresses of her generation.
In 2015, she was honored with an honorary Academy Award for her contributions to the film industry.
Born in Wisconsin in 1930, Rowlands discovered her passion for acting at a young age, inspired by the many lives she could explore through the craft.
After studying at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, she began her career in regional theatre and television before making her Broadway debut in Middle of the Night in 1956.
Her film career took off with her debut in The High Cost of Loving in 1958, where her talent drew comparisons to 1930s screen legend Carole Lombard. Rowlands’ personal life was as rich as her professional one; she and John Cassavetes had three children, Nick, Alexandra, and Zoe, all of whom followed in their parents’ footsteps into the world of film and acting.
