The Notebook Actress Gena Rowlands Dies At 94 After Dementia Diagnosis

Gena Rowlands, the award-winning actress known for her roles in John Cassavetes’s films, passed away at 94. She was celebrated for her powerful performances.

Gena Rowlands, a famous actress known for her powerful roles in films directed by her late husband, John Cassavetes, passed away on Wednesday at 94. She died peacefully at her home in Indian Wells, California, surrounded by family.

Although no official cause of death was given right away, Rowlands’s son, Nick Cassavetes, shared in June that she had been dealing with Alzheimer’s disease for five years. Rowlands had a remarkable career, starring in ten films directed by her husband, whom she was married to for nearly 35 years until his death in 1989.

Rowlands and Cassavetes created a unique on-screen partnership that lasted over three decades. Their films often explored deep themes of love, struggle, and personal issues. One of her most famous roles was in the 1974 film A Woman Under the Influence. In this role, she played a housewife going through mental health struggles, earning her the first of two Oscar nominations.

Woody Allen praised her, saying, “Incapable of an unreal moment,” and Winona Ryder called her “amazing” in a 1992 interview. Rowlands was born on June 19, 1930, in Cambria, Wisconsin. Her father was a state senator, and her mother was a painter and actress.

Rowlands’s career continued to shine even after Cassavetes’s death. She won four Emmys and appeared in various films and TV shows. In 2004, her son Nick cast her in The Notebook, a beloved film starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams. Rowlands married retired businessman Robert Forrest in 2012. She received an honorary Academy Award in 2015, the same year she retired from acting.