Gena Rowlands, famous for her performance in the popular movie The Notebook, has sadly died at the age of 94.
The recipient of a Golden Globe is widely recognized for portraying the older iteration of Allie, a role originally enacted by Rachel McAdams, in the 2004 film directed by her son, Nick Cassavetes, which also starred Ryan Gosling.
A report from TMZ says that the actress passed away at her home in Indian Wells, California, on Wednesday afternoon, August 14.
Surrounded by her family, she was in the company of her husband, Robert Forrest, and her eldest daughter, Alexandra Cassavetes, who is 58 years of age. According to the source, her son visited her several times during the week preceding her passing.
Although the official cause of death has yet to be disclosed, Cassavetes revealed that his mother had been battling Alzheimer's disease for five years, reminiscent of the poignant character she portrayed in The Notebook.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly back in June, the 65-year-old revealed that Rowland is now experiencing “full dementia.”
I asked my mom to act as older Allie, and we talked a lot about Alzheimer's and how important it is to be real about it. For the past five years, she has been dealing with Alzheimer's. Now, she's in full dementia. It's really wild because we experienced it together, she played the role, and now it's something we have to face ourselves.
When The Notebook came out, Rowlands shared her experiences about her mother's battle with Alzheimer's in an interview with Oprah's O Magazine.
She stated that the most recent film she was involved in, The Notebook, presented significant challenges for her due to her portrayal of a character suffering from Alzheimer's. Having witnessed this condition in her mother, she admitted that if Nick had not been the director, she likely would have declined the role, as it was exceedingly difficult. Although it was a tough experience, the final outcome of the film was remarkable.
Many of Gena's best performances were in collaboration with her actor-director husband John Cassavetes. Credit: Silver Screen Collection / Getty
Rowlands was born in Wisconsin in June 1930 and spent an amazing seven decades acting in movies and on stage. She decided to retire from Hollywood in 2015 when she was 84 years old.
She commenced her career on Broadway, performing in productions including Middle Of The Night and The Seven Year Itch. Subsequently, during the 1950s, she secured roles in television programs such as Top Secret, Robert Montgomery Presents, and Appointment With Adventure.
After that, she started her movie career in the 1958 film The High Cost Of Loving, but she also kept showing up on different TV shows like The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Peyton Place, and 87th Precinct.
The late actress collaborated with her husband, John Cassavetes, who died in 1989. Over a period of 40 years, they produced a total of 10 films, with notable works such as Faces (1968), Minnie and Moskowitz (1971), Opening Night (1977), and Love Streams (1984).
She received an Oscar nomination for her performance in the film Woman Under the Influence (1974), directed by Cassavetes, in which she portrayed a housewife grappling with mental health challenges. Additionally, she featured in Gloria, where she played a woman who rescued a young boy from gangsters.
Rowlands has had a fantastic career, earning four Emmy Awards, two Golden Globes, and even receiving an honorary Academy Award in 2015.
“You know what's amazing about being an actress? It's like you get to experience more than just one life,” she said while accepting her award for her long career in acting. “You get to live so many different lives.”
John, Gena, and their son Zach in a candid moment at their house in 1964. Credit: Alexandre Fuchs / Getty
Danny DeVito was one of the celebrities who honored Rowlands by writing a heartfelt message that said, “Gena, love,” and included a heart and a sad emoji.
Carrie Coon, who acted in Gone Girl, shared on X: “We've lost Gena Rowlands, a true legend, but we also lost our respect when the news calls her just ‘the actress from The Notebook.'”
Amy Sedaris, known for her role in The Mandalorian, shared a touching tribute on her Instagram, accompanied by several images of Gena Rowland. She expressed her sorrow with the words, “Rest in peace, Gena Rowland. No one can compare. No one. I'm truly saddened. #spiritinthesky.”
A fan reflected on Rowlands, stating, “She is undoubtedly one of the few actors I can genuinely assert is among the greatest of all time,” and further remarked, “Your performances in Opening Night and A Woman Under the Influence are among the finest ever recorded in cinema.”
We are thinking of Rowlands' family and fans during this difficult time.
