Legendary actor Gena Rowlands, who starred in her son’s iconic tear-jerker “The Notebook,” died at the age of 94 on Wednesday after a battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
Rowlands’ death was confirmed by representatives for her filmmaker son, Nick Cassavetes, who revealed his mother’s diagnosis earlier this year. She died Wednesday at her home in Indian Wells, California, surrounded by loved ones, TMZ reported.
Rowlands and her late husband, director John Cassavetes, were pioneers in the independent film industry and teamed up to make a total of 10 movies together, including “Minnie and Moskowitz” in 1971, “Opening Night” in 1977 and “Love Streams” in 1984.
She was nominated for two Academy Awards during her career — for the 1974 drama “A Woman Under the Influence,” in which she stars as a wife and mother struggling with domestic life; and for 1980’s “Gloria,” in which she plays a woman who helps a young boy being hunted by the mob.
Rowlands also won three Primetime Emmy Awards, one Daytime Emmy and two Golden Globes. She was awarded an honorary Oscar in 2015 in recognition of her work and legacy in Hollywood.
“You know what’s wonderful about being an actress? You don’t just live one life,” she said at the Oscars podium. “You live many lives.”
The Hollywood star was introduced to a new generation through her son’s blockbuster rom-com “The Notebook” in 2004. She played an elderly woman with dementia reflecting on her past romance in the flick. Her character’s younger self was played by Rachel McAdams.
She and Cassavetes met at the American School of Dramatic Arts when both their careers were beginning and married just four months later. Cassavetes released his first film, “Shadows,” in 1960 to high praise for its shots of New York City and harsh realism.
Rowlands continued working in live drama performances on and off Broadway after getting her degree. She made her big break starring opposite Edward G. Robinson in Paddy Chayefsky’s play “Middle of the Night,” with critics lauding her as a new star.
MGM offered her a contract for two pictures a year. Her first film, a comedy directed by and co-starring Jose Ferrer, “The High Cost of Loving,” brought Rowlands comparisons to Golden Age great Carole Lombard.
She later asked to be released from her contract to start a family.
In addition to son Nick, she and Cassavetes had two daughters, Alexandra and Zoe, who also pursued acting careers. Cassavetes died of cirrhosis of the liver in 1989, leaving her heartbroken but inspiring her to return to acting, from which she had taken a long break.
“I want everyone to see his films,” she said of her husband at the San Sebastian Festival in 1992. “John was one of a kind, the most totally fearless person I’ve ever known. He had a very specific view of life and the individuality of people.”
She appeared in TV series such as “Alfred Hitchcock Presents,” “Bonanza,” “Dr. Kildare” and “The Virginian.” She also co-starred alongside icon Bette Davis in the 1979 TV movie “Strangers.”
Her other credits include “Lonely Are the Brave” with Kirk Douglas, “The Spiral Road” (Rock Hudson), “A Child Is Waiting” (with Burt Lancaster and Judy Garland, directed by Cassavetes), “Two Minute Warning” (Charlton Heston), “Tempest” (co-starring with Cassavetes and Molly Ringwald, in her screen debut) and the mother who wants to do right by her children in Paul Schrader’s 1987 study of a blue-collar family “Light of Day.”
She also starred in Woody Allen’s 1988 drama “Another Woman.”
Rowlands’ last appearance in a movie was in 2014, playing a retiree who befriends her gay dance instructor in “Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks.” She retired after completing the film.
Rowlands said back in 1992 that she cherishes all of the characters she’s played.
“Sometimes, those white nights when I have no sleep and a lot of time to think about everything, I’ll examine different possibilities of different characters and what they might be doing now,” she said.
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