Gena Rowlands, Academy Award winner and star of 'The Notebook,' dies at 94

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Gena Rowlands, celebrated as a towering figure in acting and a beacon of independent cinema through her roles in pioneering films directed by her husband, John Cassavetes, and later captivating viewers in her son's emotional film 'The Notebook,' died at the age of 94.

TMZ reported that Rowlands died at her home in Indian Wells, California, on August 14, surrounded by her family, including her husband, Robert, and her daughter, Alexandra Cassavetes.

How did Gena Rowlands die?

The death of Gena Rowlands was confirmed on Wednesday by the representatives of her son, filmmaker Nick Cassavetes. Although the official cause of death has not been announced, Gena had been struggling with Alzheimer's disease.

As reported earlier, Nick revealed Gena's diagnosis in June, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of 'The Notebook,' a film he directed. Interestingly, Gena's role in the movie also grappled with the same illness.

At that time, Nick revealed that Gena had been fighting Alzheimer's for five years and was experiencing "full dementia."

Rowlands is survived by her husband Robert, to whom she was married in 2012, and her three children- Nick, Alexandra, and Zoe Cassavetes.

Gena Rowlands' work and achievements

Working beyond the confines of the studio system, the husband-and-wife duo of John Cassavetes and Gena Rowlands crafted unforgettable depictions of working-class aspirants and minor players in films like 'A Woman Under the Influence,' 'Gloria,' and 'Faces.'

Rowlands collaborated with Cassavetes on ten films over four decades, such as 'Minnie and Moskowitz' in 1971, 'Opening Night' in 1977, and 'Love Streams' in 1984, ABC7 reports.

She received two Oscar nominations for her roles: one for the 1974 film 'A Woman Under the Influence,' where she portrayed a wife and mother struggling with the pressures of domestic life, and another for 'Gloria' in 1980, which tells the story of a woman aiding a young boy in fleeing from the mob.

In addition to her Oscar nominations, Rowlands received three Primetime Emmy Awards, one Daytime Emmy, and two Golden Globes. Her contributions and legacy in Hollywood were acknowledged with an honorary Academy Award in 2015.

Fans flood social media with tributes to Gena Rowlands

Following the news about the death of the legendary actress, her fans shared prayers and tributes on social media.

A user wrote, "May Gena Rowlands rest in peace. One of the greatest actors to ever grace the silver screen. The complexities of what it means to be human have never been more fully or richly on display than through her deeply nuanced performances. She will be missed."

Another added, "No one like her. One of the greatest of all time. RIP Gena Rowlands"

The third commentator used a broken heart emoji to convey their emotions, "Gena Rowlands. We will miss you."

"Gena Rowlands’ performances changed my brain chemistry forever. RIP to a [in the *truest* sense of the word] legend," one remarked.

A person praised her acting skills, "rest in peace gena rowlands. i still think about her performance in a woman under the influence (1974) it was my favourite performance of all time, she was so good."

Other chimed in writing, "Her Movie Gloria brilliant performance unbelievable if you’re a Fan of Women character Tough as nails she set the Standard for all Women from that Point on RIP Gene Rowlands 94 years old God Bless now with her beloved husband actor director John Cassavetes"

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