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Gena Rowlands, the acclaimed American actress famous for her powerful performances and enduring impact on cinema, passed away at 94. The news of Rowlands’ death was confirmed by her son, Nick Cassavetes, through an Instagram post earlier this morning.
Nick Cassavetes shared that his mother had been battling Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive form of dementia that impairs memory, thinking, and daily functioning. He had previously disclosed in June that Rowlands was struggling with the condition, which eventually led to severe symptoms affecting her daily life.
Rowlands was deeply involved in portraying characters that grappled with Alzheimer’s, notably her role as Allie Calhoun in the 2004 film The Notebook. Cassavetes revealed that his mother’s commitment to authentically representing the struggles of Alzheimer’s was personal, as she had been living with the disease in recent years. “We lived it, she acted it, and now it’s on us,” Cassavetes reflected.
What you should know about the late Gena Rowlands
Rowlands began her illustrious career in television in New York during the 1950s. Over the decades, she starred in a wide range of films including The High Cost of Loving (1958), Lonely Are the Brave, Minnie and Moskowitz, Faces, Opening Night, Another Woman, Hope Floats, Unhook the Stars, Playing by Heart, The Notebook, and Broken English.
Rowlands received numerous accolades throughout her career, including four Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards. She was also nominated for Academy Awards for her roles in A Woman Under the Influence (1974) and Gloria (1980), both directed by her late husband, John Cassavetes.
In 2015, Rowlands was honored with an honorary Oscar for her extraordinary lifetime achievements in cinema, cementing her legacy as one of the most revered figures in the film industry.
