Gena Rowlands, an award-winning American actress renowned for her roles in films directed by her first husband, John Cassavetes, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 94. According to US media reports, Rowlands died peacefully, surrounded by her family, at her home in Indian Wells, California.
Her son, Nick Cassavetes, had previously shared in June that Rowlands had been suffering from Alzheimer’s disease for the past five years, as reported by The New York Times. No official cause of death was immediately provided.
Rowlands is best remembered for her powerful performances in 10 films directed by Cassavetes, to whom she was married for nearly 35 years until his death in 1989. Their collaboration produced some of her most iconic roles, including her portrayal of a housewife spiraling into mental illness in “A Woman Under the Influence” (1974). This role earned her the first of her two Oscar nominations.
“Incapable of an unreal moment,” said Woody Allen, who cast Rowlands in his 1988 film “Another Woman.” The actress was also praised by her peers, with Winona Ryder, her co-star in Jim Jarmusch’s “Night on Earth,” saying in a 1992 interview with the LA Times, “Whatever I say about Gena isn’t enough because she’s so incredible.”
Rowlands was born on June 19, 1930, in Cambria, Wisconsin, into a cultured, middle-class family. She met Cassavetes in 1953 and married him a year later. Together, they created a series of films that explored complex themes of passion and self-destruction, often set against backdrops of alcohol and infidelity.
Even after Cassavetes’ death, Rowlands continued to act, earning four Emmys for her work on television. Her son, Nick Cassavetes, directed her in “The Notebook” (2004), where she starred alongside Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams.
In 2015, Rowlands was honored with an honorary Academy Award, marking her immense contribution to the film industry. She retired from acting the same year, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire generations of actors and filmmakers.
