August 15th 2024.
Beloved actress Gena Rowlands, known for her captivating performance in her son's heartwarming hit movie "The Notebook", has passed away at the age of 94. She was hailed as one of the greatest actors of all time, leaving a lasting mark in the world of independent cinema through her collaborations with her director husband, John Cassavetes.
News of her passing was confirmed today by representatives for her son, filmmaker Nick Cassavetes. Earlier this year, Nick had revealed that his mother was battling Alzheimer's disease. According to TMZ, Rowlands passed away on Wednesday at her home in Indian Wells, California.
Known for operating outside of the traditional studio system, the husband-and-wife duo of John Cassavetes and Gena Rowlands created unforgettable portrayals of working-class individuals and small-town characters in their groundbreaking films such as "A Woman Under the Influence", "Gloria", and "Faces". Over the course of four decades, Rowlands appeared in 10 films alongside Cassavetes, including "Minnie and Moskowitz" in 1971, "Opening Night" in 1977, and "Love Streams" in 1984. She received Oscar nominations for her performances in two of these films - "A Woman Under the Influence" in 1974 and "Gloria" in 1980.
In a 2015 interview, Rowlands shared that her husband had a special interest in exploring women's struggles and triumphs in society, and this was reflected in his films. "He always had interesting female characters, and you don't need many," she said.
Besides her Academy Award nominations, Rowlands also won three Primetime Emmy Awards, one Daytime Emmy, and two Golden Globes. In 2015, she was honored with a lifetime achievement award at the Academy Awards, recognizing her contributions to Hollywood.
During her acceptance speech, Rowlands reflected on the beauty of being an actress, saying, "You know what's wonderful about being an actress? You don't just live one life, you live many lives."
A new generation of fans was introduced to Rowlands through her role in her son's blockbuster film "The Notebook", where she played an elderly woman with memory loss, reminiscing about a timeless romance. Her younger self was portrayed by Rachel McAdams.
In her later years, Rowlands continued to make appearances in films and TV shows, including "The Skeleton Key" and the detective series "Monk". Her last film appearance was in 2014's "Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks", where she played a retiree who forms a friendship with her gay dance instructor.
One of Rowlands' most notable career achievements was her performance in 1974's "A Woman Under the Influence", where she played a lower middle-class housewife struggling with the demands of her domestic life. Her portrayal in "Gloria" as a former showgirl being hunted by her ex-boyfriend, a mob boss, also earned her an Oscar nomination for best actress.
Rowlands and Cassavetes met at the American School of Dramatic Arts at the start of their careers and tied the knot just four months later. In 1960, Cassavetes used his earnings from his TV series "Johnny Stacatto" to fund his first film, "Shadows". Shot on a shoestring budget with natural lighting and improvised scenes, the film was praised by critics for its raw realism.
Born in Cambria, Wisconsin in 1930, Rowlands grew up in a family of Welsh descent. Her mother encouraged her love for acting, and she left the University of Wisconsin during her junior year to pursue her dream in New York.
Following in the footsteps of her fellow actors, Rowlands gained valuable experience through her work in live television dramas in the 1950s. After leaving her contract with MGM, she had the freedom to choose her film roles, and she often turned to TV series such as "Alfred Hitchcock Presents", "Bonanza", "Dr. Kildare", and "The Virginian" when she couldn't find any roles that interested her.
Throughout her career, Rowlands took breaks from acting to prioritize family matters. She and Cassavetes had three children - daughters Alexandra and Zoe, both of whom pursued acting careers, and son Nick. After Cassavetes' death in 1989, Rowlands returned to acting as a way to cope with her loss.
In her later years, Rowlands continued to take on challenging roles, such as in Woody Allen's drama "Another Woman", where she played a writer who has kept her emotions at bay until a series of events forces her to confront them. She also appeared in the groundbreaking TV movie "An Early Frost" as a mother coming to terms with her son's AIDS diagnosis.
Reflecting on her career in 1992, Rowlands shared that her roles remained close to her heart even after filming had ended. "Sometimes, on those sleepless nights when I have a lot of time to think, I'll imagine different possibilities for my characters and what they might be doing now," she said.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
