Gena Rowlands dies: Fans pay tribute to the acting legend and frequent John Cassavetes collaborator
One of the great actors of her generation has reportedly died at the age of 94.
Multiple outlets reportedĀ on Wednesday the death of legendary actor Gena Rowlands, who is best known for her performances in her husband John Cassavetesā films likeĀ A Woman Under the Influence,Ā Faces,Ā Minnie and MoskowitzĀ andĀ Gloria, just to name a few.
She also gained new fans later in her filmography with a memorable role in her son Nick Cassavetesā 2004 romanceĀ The Notebook.
Rowlands earned Oscar nominations in the Best Actress category forĀ A Woman Under the InfluenceĀ andĀ GloriaĀ and received an Honorary Academy Award in 2015, cementing her legacy as a singular talent on screen.
She also won three Emmy Awards, including one for playing former First Lady Betty Ford, and two Golden Globe Awards.
She also appeared in films likeĀ Hope Floats,Ā Tempest,Ā The Brinkās Job,Ā Tony RomeĀ andĀ The Neon BibleĀ during her career. Her final screen credit came in 2014 with the comedyĀ Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks.
With news of her death, film fans paid tribute to a truly remarkable career.
āI can never have a poker face. Anybody looking at me can tell exactly what Iām thinking.ā ā Gena Rowlands
And thatās precisely what I loved about her most. Ebert said the key to Cassavetes is knowing that she always played John. She was nothing less than 100% authentic.Ā #RIPĀ pic.twitter.com/OIqiZl6WcW
ā Jen Johans (@FilmIntuition)Ā August 15, 2024
rest in peace, Gena Rowlands. one of the greatest actors to ever grace the screen.Ā pic.twitter.com/ESXhuUODZE
ā The Cinegogue (@TheCinegogue)Ā August 15, 2024
Heartbreaking news. My favorite actress of all time Gena Rowlands has passed away. There will never be another, donāt even try to convince me.Ā #ripĀ #puretalentĀ pic.twitter.com/oKjcnCPdZG
ā Saverio Guerra (@saverio825)Ā August 15, 2024
We should all be as lucky as John Cassavetes was to find Gena Rowlands.
ā DrewMcWeeny (@DrewMcWeeny)Ā August 15, 2024
Hollywood Legend Gena Rowlands Dies at 94 After Alzheimerās Diagnosis
Gena Rowlands, the irreproachable and Oscar-nominated star of cinematic classics likeĀ A Woman Under the Influence,Ā Opening Night,Ā Night on Earth, andĀ The Notebook, died on Wednesday at her home in Indian Wells, California. She was 94.
A cause of death was not immediately shared. Rowlands was diagnosed with Alzheimerās in 2019, her family said earlier this year.
TMZĀ first reported Rowlandsā death on Wednesday night. A representative for her son, Nick Cassavetes, soon after confirmed the tabloidās report toĀ VarietyĀ andĀ The Washington Post.
A four-time Emmy winner and two-time Oscar nominee, Rowlands was best known for her onscreen collaborations with her husband, the actor and director John Cassavetes.
In 2004, she starred inĀ The Notebook, a romantic drama directed by her son, Nick.
Nick disclosed his motherās Alzheimerās diagnosis over the summer.
āI got my mom to play older Allie, and we spent a lot of time talking about Alzheimerās and wanting to be authentic with it, and now, for the last five years, sheās had Alzheimerās,ā he toldĀ EW. āSheās in full dementia. And itās so crazy ā we lived it, she acted it and now itās on us.ā
Besides Nick, Rowlands is survived by her husband, Robert Forrest, and two daughters, Alexandra and Zoe Cassavetes.
The Notebookās Gena Rowlands dies at 94
Gena Rowlands, who starred in The Notebook, has died aged 94.
The actress died at her California home on Wednesday afternoon, according to TMZ.
Her husband of 12 years, Robert Forrest, was by her side, along with her daughter, Alexandra Cassavetes, 58.
Gena was best known for playing the older version of Rachel McAdamsā character Allie in the 2004 movie, The Notebook, which was directed by her son, Nick Cassavetes. In the film her character had dementia ā and in the past few years, Gena herself suffered from the same disease.
In June this year, Nick revealed his mum was suffering from Alzheimerās disease, and was now āin full dementia.ā
He told Entertainment Weekly, āI got my mom to play older Allie, and we spent a lot of time talking about Alzheimerās and wanting to be authentic with it, and now, for the last five years, sheās had Alzheimerās. Sheās in full dementia. And itās so crazy ā we lived it, she acted it, and now itās on us.ā
Gena began her career in the 1950s on stage and in television. She worked closely with her first husband, actor, writer and director John Cassavetes who hailed her as his muse. They worked together on several independent films in the 1970s and 1980s.
She retired from Hollywood in 2015 after earning four Emmy awards, two Golden Globes, and two Oscar nominations.
She is survived by her three children from her first marriage, Nick, Alexandra and Zoe Cassavetes.
