Iconic The Notebook actress Gena Rowlands dies aged 94-Brooke Ivey Johnson-Entertainment – Metro

Beloved actress Gena Rowlands has died at 94 (Picture: Getty Images)

Gena Rowlands, the legendary actress known for her powerful performances in films such as A Woman Under the Influence and The Notebook, has passed away at the age of 94.

Rowlands died at her home in Indian Wells, California, surrounded by family.

Although no official cause of death was provided, it is widely reported that she had been suffering from Alzheimer’s disease in her final years.

Rowlands’ illustrious career spanned several decades, earning her critical acclaim, including four Primetime Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, and two Oscar nominations.

Her Academy Award nominations came for her roles in A Woman Under the Influence (1974) and Gloria (1980), both of which were directed by her late husband, John Cassavetes.

Born on June 19, 1930, in Cambria, Wisconsin, Rowlands moved to New York City to pursue her acting career after working in regional theater.

Rowlands began her career in the 1950s (Picture: AP)

Rowlands and her husband John Cassavetes are remembered for their collaborative artistic relationship (Picture: Getty Images)

She made her Broadway debut in The Seven Year Itch and later starred opposite Edward G. Robinson in the Broadway play Middle of the Night (1956).

Her early career also included numerous television appearances, including roles in the syndicated TV series Top Secret and guest spots on popular anthology series.

Rowlands made her film debut in 1958 with The High Cost of Loving, but it was her collaborations with Cassavetes that truly defined her legacy.

Together, they made ten films, including Faces (1968), Opening Night (1977), and Love Streams (1984), in addition to the Oscar-nominated A Woman Under the Influence and Gloria. They were married from April 9, 1954, until Cassavetes’ death on February 3, 1989.

The actress was directed in The Notebook by her son Nick Cassavetes (Picture: Melissa Moseley/New Line/Kobal/Shutterstock)

Their partnership not only elevated Rowlands to stardom but also helped shape the landscape of independent film in the United States.

Her performance as Mabel Longhetti in A Woman Under the Influence is often cited as one of the greatest in film history, capturing the complexities and struggles of a woman on the edge of mental collapse.

The film was a deeply personal project for Rowlands, who was motivated to explore the challenges faced by American women in their relationships and lives.

Rowlands was honoured with an honorary Academy Award(Picture: Getty Images)

When traditional funding sources fell through, she and Cassavetes mortgaged their home and borrowed from friends and family to complete the film, which was shot with a mix of professional crew members and students from the American Film Institute (AFI).

In addition to her film work, Rowlands enjoyed a successful television career, winning Emmys for her roles in The Betty Ford Story (1987), Face of a Stranger (1991), Hysterical Blindness (2002), and The Incredible Mrs. Ritchie (2004).

Rowlands’ performance in A Woman Under the Influence is remembered as one of the best in film history (Picture: The Kobal Collection)

Her portrayal of the mother of a young man with AIDS in the groundbreaking TV movie An Early Frost (1985) earned her another Emmy nomination.

In 2015, Rowlands was honored with an honorary Academy Award in recognition of her contributions to the film industry.

One of Rowlands’ most memorable roles came in 2004, when she starred in The Notebook, directed by her son Nick Cassavetes.

In the film, she portrayed the elderly version of the lead character Allie, a woman suffering from dementia.

Rowlands leaves behind three children (Picture: Getty Images)

In a bittersweet twist of fate, Rowlands herself was later diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

Nick Cassavetes recently shared with Entertainment Weekly how the experience of making the film paralleled the reality of their lives: ‘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.’

Gena Rowlands is survived by her husband, Robert Forrest, and her three children, Nick, Alexandra, and Zoe Cassavetes.

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