The actress had been suffering from Alzheimer’s for five years, the same disease that affected the character she played in ‘The Notebook’.
MADRID, Spain.- Gena Rowlands, the iconic American actress known for her work in independent films and her collaborations with her husband, director John Cassavetes, died on Wednesday at the age of 94 at her home in Indian Wells, California, surrounded by her family. The news was confirmed by her son, the filmmaker Nick Cassavetes, who had previously revealed that her mother had been suffering from Alzheimer’s for five years.
Among many others, Rowlands is known for her emotional performance in Noah’s diary (2004), directed by Nick Cassavetes. In this film, Rowlands played an older woman suffering from Alzheimer’s, a role that now takes on even deeper resonance due to her own battle with the disease in her later years. In the film, her character recalls a love story that defied time and illness.
Born in Wisconsin in 1930, Rowlands began her career in theater before moving into film and television, where she quickly became known for her versatility and emotional depth. Alongside John Cassavetes, to whom she was married for 34 years until his death in 1989, Rowlands starred in films such as A woman under the influence (1974) and Glory (1980), which earned him nominations for Oscar.
Her work was not limited to collaborations with Cassavetes; Rowlands also made her mark on television, where she won three Emmy Awards and two Golden Globes. In 2015, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awarded her an honorary Oscar in recognition of her career and contributions to film.
Rowlands will be remembered not only for her talent and her ability to portray complex and vulnerable characters, but also for her influence in redefining independent cinema in the United States.
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