American actress Gena Rowlands, who notably distinguished herself in the film “A Woman Under the Influence,” died on Wednesday at the age of 94, according to the American entertainment site TMZ and the New York Times.
Gena Rowlands – her real name Virginia Cathryn Rowlands – had suffered from Alzheimer’s disease for five years, according to remarks made by her son Nick Cassavetes to the New York Times in June. She passed away at her home in Indian Wells, California, according to TMZ.
The figure of independent American cinema had made her mark in about sixty eclectic roles, under the direction of her husband, filmmaker John Cassavetes, as well as Woody Allen and Jim Jarmusch.
She said of her husband that he had written her “the most beautiful roles an actress could dream of,” from the call-girl in “Faces” (1968) to a housewife experiencing dementia in “A Woman Under the Influence” (1974), a role that earned her a Golden Globe for Best Actress in 1975.
Filming with someone who rejected the dictates of large Hollywood studios was “very exciting, as all the responsibility of the role rested on your shoulders,” the actress stated.
American actress Gena Rowlands in the film ‘A Woman Under the Influence’ (1974) by John Cassavetes. [Collection ChristopheL via AFP – FACES]
A Theater Enthusiast
Gena Rowlands was born on June 19, 1930, in Cambria, Wisconsin, to a banker and senator father and a painter mother, which predisposed her to a more conventional life.
However, at 20, a fan of Bette Davis, she interrupted her studies at the University of Wisconsin to take drama courses in New York. There she began her “real life” on stage (“The Seven Year Itch” by George Axelrod) and met John Cassavetes.
Theater remained her passion. Two years later, she was revealed in “The Middle of the Night” by Paddy Chayefsky, playing alongside Edward G. Robinson for 18 months.
In 1958, Gena Rowlands gained recognition on the big screen, notably in “The Love of Money” by José Ferrer and “Lonely Are the Brave” by David Miller, with Kirk Douglas. However, she turned down Hollywood and returned to New York: “I have always followed what my heart dictated and have no regrets.”
Several Distinctions
She portrayed strong characters in seven films, including “Opening Night” (Silver Bear for Best Actress at the Berlin Film Festival in 1978), “Gloria” (1980), and “Love Streams” with Ben Gazzara (Golden Bear 1984 at the Berlin Festival).
When John Cassavetes died of cirrhosis of the liver at 59 in 1989, Gena Rowlands, who had just finished filming “Another Woman” by Woody Allen, continued to be in high demand for both the big screen and television series.
She also directed films for her son. After “Unhook the Stars” (1996) with Gérard Depardieu as actor and co-producer, “The Notebook” (2004) earned her the 2005 Golden Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Gena Rowlands also took on a mother role in her daughter Zoe’s first film, “Broken English” (2007), and was one of the three heroines in “Parts per Billion” by Brian Horiuchi (2013). In 2015, when she stepped back from acting, she received an honorary Oscar for her career.
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