Gena Rowlands, renowned for her powerful performances in films like “A Woman Under the Influence” and “The Notebook,” has died at her home in Indian Wells, California. She was 94. Her death was confirmed by her son’s agent’s office, following news of her Alzheimer’s diagnosis revealed by her son, director Nick Cassavetes, in June.
Rowlands’ career was marked by her transformative roles, including her Academy Award-nominated performance as Mabel Longhetti in John Cassavetes’ 1974 drama “A Woman Under the Influence.” She received another Oscar nomination for “Gloria” (1980), also directed by her husband. In 2015, Rowlands was honored with an honorary Academy Award for her illustrious career.
In her later years, Rowlands continued to work with her children, appearing in Nick Cassavetes’ films “Unhook the Stars” (1996), “The Notebook” (2004), and “Yellow” (2012), as well as in her daughter Zoe’s “Broken English” (2007). She also starred in Terence Davies’ 1995 drama “The Neon Bible.”
Starting her career on Broadway, Rowlands made a significant impact on both stage and screen. Her TV work earned her multiple Emmy nominations and wins, including for “The Betty Ford Story” (1987), “Face of a Stranger” (1992), and HBO’s “Hysterical Blindness” (2003). Her role in “An Early Frost” (1985) was pivotal in raising awareness about HIV/AIDS.
Rowlands’ legacy includes her collaborations with John Cassavetes on ten films, defining independent American cinema in the ’70s and ’80s. Her final film appearances were in “Parts Per Billion” (2014) and “Dancing for Six Weeks” (2014).
Born Virginia Cathryn Rowlands in Madison, Wisconsin, she studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and married John Cassavetes in 1954. She is survived by her children Nick, Zoe, and Alexandra (Xan), several grandchildren, and her second husband, Robert Forrest, whom she married in 2012.
