Popular American actress Gena Rowlands, known for her role in “The Notebook,” passed away at 94. Rowlands’ death comes shortly after her son, Nick Cassavetes, announced that she was suffering from dementia.
On Wednesday, August 14, 2024, TMZ reported that Rowlands had died at her home in Indian Wells, California, surrounded by family. Subsequently, Nick’s agent’s office contacted People to confirm the news of Rowlands’ death.
Gena Rowlands’ Dementia Diagnosis
Gena Rowlands, who played the older version of Allie Calhoun in “The Notebook,” was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, just like her character. However, while the diagnosis came in 2019, it remained a secret until Nick told Entertainment Weekly in June 2024.
Speaking on Rowlands’ diagnosis, Nick said, “I got my mom to play older Allie, and we spent a lot of time talking about Alzheimer’s and wanting to be authentic with it, and now, for the last five years, she’s had Alzheimer’s. She’s in full dementia. And it’s so crazy—we lived it, she acted it, and now it’s on us.”
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In 2004, Rowlands discussed her role in “The Notebook” and how challenging it was, given her history with the disease. The late actress opened up about the difficulty of playing Allie Calhoun, given her mother’s battle with the illness.
In 2004, Rowlands stated that she wouldn’t have accepted the role if her son, Nick Cassavetes, hadn’t directed the movie. Rowlands said, “I don’t think I would have gone for it—it’s just too hard. It was a tough but wonderful movie.”
What Are the Top 6 Gena Rowlands Movies?
Virginia Cathryn “Gena” Rowlands was an American actress whose 70-year career spanned across film, stage, and television. Rowlands was born in Wisconsin on June 19, 1930, to Mary Allen and Edwin Myrwyn Rowlands. Her mother, Mary Allen, later became an actress, taking the stage name of Lady Rowlands.
Rowlands started performing in the 1950s, securing her Broadway debut with “The Seven Year Itch,” where she toured in a national production. However, most of her well-known movies came from her collaboration with her husband, John Cassavetes.
John and Rowlands collaborated on a total of ten movies, including “Tempest,” “A Child Is Waiting,” and “Machine Gun McCain.” Rowlands’ most popular movie is “The Notebook,” directed by her son Nick Cassavetes.
Her second and third most popular movies are “Hope Floats” (1998) and “The Skeleton Key” (2005). Rowlands was cast in movies such as “Taking Lives” (2004), “Another Woman” (1988), and “Once Around” (1991).
Did Gena Rowlands Have Any Children?
From her first marriage to the late John Cassavetes, Gena Rowlands had three children named Nick, Alexandra, and Zoe. John and Rowlands welcomed their first child, Nick Cassavetes, on May 21, 1959. Nick Cassavetes, like his parents, pursued a career in filmmaking and collaborated with them on several occasions.
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On September 21, 1965, John and Rowlands welcomed their second child, Alexandra “Xan” Cassavetes. Like her parents and older brother, Alexandra has also taken a career in the movie industry. In 1970, Alexandra and her brother, Nick, made their big-screen debuts in their father’s comedy-drama film “Husbands.”
Alexandra has been cast in movies such as “Kiss of the Damned,” “Alpha Dog,” and “Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession.” On June 29, 1970, John and Rowlands had their youngest child, Zoe Cassavetes.
Like her family, Zoe is a director, screenwriter, and actress. In 2007, Zoe made her directorial debut with the romantic drama “Broken English,” in which her mother, Rowlands, was cast.
How Many Awards Did Gena Rowlands Win?
Across her career, which spanned seven decades, Rowlands was nominated for 24 awards. The nominations include two Academy Awards, eight Primetime Emmy Awards, and one Daytime Emmy Award. Additionally, she was nominated for eight Golden Globe Awards and two SAG Awards.
Rowlands was nominated for three Satellite Awards, with one coming in 2004 for her role as a supporting actress in “The Notebook.” Amidst the nominations, Rowlands won three Primetime Emmy Awards, one Daytime Emmy Award, and two Golden Globe Awards.
She also won a Silver Bear for Best Actress, two National Board of Review Awards, and two Satellite Awards.
Who Is Gena Rowlands’ Husband?
Gena Rowlands was married to John Cassavetes from March 9, 1954, until his death on February 3, 1989. John and Rowlands originally met while they were students at the American Academy at Carnegie Hall. In 1984, Rowlands described her marriage to John as volatile.
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The actress said, “John and I probably disagree on just about everything in the world. But that’s what marriage is all about. If you think a marriage isn’t going to be like that, you’ve got trouble.”
Subsequently, after John passed away in 1989 from cirrhosis of the liver, Rowlands kept a low dating profile before getting married in 2012. Gena Rowlands and Robert Forrest married in 2012, 23 years after John’s passing. Forrest, a former businessman, has been a close friend of the actress.
Although not much about him has been documented, it is known that Rowlands and Forrest were happily married until her death. Additionally, the two were sighted at several public events, such as the premiere of Gena Rowlands’ movie “Hysterical Blindness.”
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