Gena Rowlands: A Legendary Actress Leaves Us at 94
Award-winning US actress Gena Rowlands, best known for her iconic roles alongside her first husband, director John Cassavetes, has passed away at the age of 94. According to US media reports, Rowlands died peacefully at her home in Indian Wells, California, surrounded by her loved ones.
Rowlands’ son, Nick Cassavetes, revealed in June that his mother had been suffering from Alzheimer’s disease for the past five years, according to the New York Times. Despite her illustrious career, the exact cause of her death has not been officially confirmed.
Rowlands’ partnership with Cassavetes, which lasted for nearly 35 years until his death in 1989, produced some of her most striking performances. The couple’s collaborations explored themes of passion, self-destruction, and the complexities of human relationships on screen.
One of Rowlands’ most celebrated roles was as Mabel, a housewife descending into madness in Cassavetes’ 1974 film “A Woman Under the Influence.” Her portrayal of this complex character earned her the first of two Oscar nominations.
Woody Allen, who cast Rowlands in his 1988 film “Another Woman,” paid tribute to her remarkable talent, stating that she was “incapable of an unreal moment.” Winona Ryder, who worked with Rowlands in Jim Jarmusch’s 1992 film “Night on Earth,” echoed Allen’s sentiments, saying, “Whatever I say about Gena isn’t enough because she’s so incredible.”
Born on June 19, 1930, in Cambria, Wisconsin, Rowlands was a member of a cultured middle-class family. She enrolled in the American Academy of Drama in New York, where she met Cassavetes in 1953. The couple married a year later and went on to create a string of films that showcased Rowlands’ remarkable talents.
Throughout her career, Rowlands continued to work in film and television, winning four Emmys. Her son, Nick, directed her in the 2004 film “The Notebook,” alongside Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams.
In 2012, Rowlands married retired businessman Robert Forrest and retired from acting in 2015. She was awarded an honorary Academy Award in the same year.
Gena Rowlands’ legacy as an actress and her remarkable partnership with John Cassavetes will undoubtedly be remembered for generations to come.
