Gena Rowlands, renowned for her groundbreaking roles in film and a key figure in independent cinema, has died at the age of 94. She was known for her work in movies directed by her late husband, John Cassavetes, and for her role in the hit film The Notebook, directed by her son, Nick Cassavetes.
Rowlands’ passing was confirmed on Wednesday by her son’s representatives. Earlier this year, Nick Cassavetes disclosed that his mother had been battling Alzheimer’s disease. TMZ reported that she died at her home in Indian Wells, California.
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Rowlands and her husband John Cassavetes, working outside the traditional studio system, created memorable films depicting the lives of ordinary people. Their notable works include A Woman Under the Influence, Gloria, and Faces.
Over a career spanning four decades, Rowlands appeared in ten films directed by Cassavetes, such as Minnie and Moskowitz (1971), Opening Night (1977), and Love Streams (1984). Her performances earned her two Academy Award nominations: one for her role in A Woman Under the Influence (1974) and another for Gloria (1980) about a woman who helps a young boy escape the mob.
“He had a particular sympathetic interest in women and their problems in society, how they were treated and how they solved and overcame what they needed to, so all his movies have some interesting women, and you don’t need many,” she told the AP in 2015.
In addition to her Oscar nominations, Rowlands received three Primetime Emmy Awards, one Daytime Emmy, and two Golden Globes. She was honoured with an honorary Academy Award in 2015 for her contributions to Hollywood.
A new generation of fans came to know Rowlands through her role in The Notebook, a film about a woman with a failing memory looking back on a profound romance, with her younger self played by Rachel McAdams. Rowlands also appeared in her son’s 1996 film, Unhook the Stars.
In her later years, Rowlands featured in films like The Skeleton Key and the TV series Monk, with her final film role being in Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks (2014), where she played a retiree who befriends her dance instructor.
Rowlands’ performance in A Woman Under the Influence was one of her standout roles, portraying a housewife struggling with personal issues. In Gloria (1980), she played a former showgirl protecting a young boy from mobsters, earning critical acclaim and an Oscar nomination for both roles.
She met John Cassavetes at the American School of Dramatic Arts and they married shortly after. Cassavetes later used his earnings from TV work to fund his first film, Shadows, praised for its realistic portrayal of life.
Gena Rowlands initially gained recognition through live television dramas and off-Broadway performances before her big break in Paddy Chayefsky’s play Middle of the Night, which led to an MGM contract. Although she had to leave MGM for family reasons, Rowlands continued to work in both film and TV.
She had three children with Cassavetes: Nick, Alexandra, and Zoe, all of whom pursued careers in the arts. After John Cassavetes passed away in 1989, Rowlands continued acting, attending film festivals and supporting her late husband’s work.
“I want everyone to see his films,” she said at the San Sebastian Festival in 1992. “John was one of a kind, the most totally fearless person I’ve ever known. He had a very specific view of life and the individuality of people.”
Born Virginia Cathryn Rowlands in 1930 in Cambria, Wisconsin, she grew up with a love for acting encouraged by her mother. Rowlands left the University of Wisconsin to pursue her acting dreams in New York, where she gained experience in television drama.
After leaving her MGM contract, Rowlands chose her roles selectively, appearing in TV shows like Alfred Hitchcock Presents and Bonanza, and enjoying roles alongside stars like Bette Davis. Her extensive film career included roles in Lonely Are the Brave, The Spiral Road, and Light of Day.
Rowlands commented in 1992 that her roles remained in her memory.
“Sometimes, those white nights when I have no sleep and a lot of time to think about everything, I’ll examine different possibilities of different characters and what they might be doing now,” she said.
