An American actress, Gena Rowlands is recognized for her strong and impassioned acting in both movies and television. Born on June 19, 1930 in Madison, Wisconsin, Rowlands had a productive career that lasted several decades especially from the 1950s to the early years of 2000s.
She’s most famous for being married to John Cassavetes who was an influential director. They worked together making some groundbreaking films which have since become independent cinema classics. Some of their most outstanding films are:
"A Woman Under the Influence" (1974) - Rowlands' portrayal of a woman struggling with mental illness earned her widespread acclaim and an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.
"Gloria" (1980) - In this film, Rowlands played a tough former mobster's girlfriend who protects a young boy from the mafia. Her performance earned her another Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.
"Opening Night" (1977) - Rowlands delivered a nuanced performance as an aging actress dealing with a crisis of identity, which further showcased her range and depth as an actress.Gena Rowlands had a gift of infusing her performances with remarkable depth and realism, thus making her one of the most celebrated actresses of all time. She often played difficult, unhappy people. Her acting made them very much within reach because it was characterized by such things as fearfulness of failure, a raw vulnerability and manic energy.
In addition, she was well known for taking an improvised approach to acting which became especially noticeable in films directed by her husband John Cassavetes. It gave her the freedom she needed to thoroughly investigate and express elements contained in her roles.
Why did Gena Rowlands die?
The famous actress Gena Rowlands who is best known for her spellbinding performances in movies like “The Notebook” and “A Woman Under The Influence” has died at the age of 94. Her son Nick Cassavetes confirmed the news stating that she had been bravely fighting against Alzheimer disease which is something she excellently depicted through emotions in The Notebook movie.
Gena Rowland’s career was truly amazing due to collaboration with her husband John Cassavetes that produced unforgettable indie films where she starred. It marks the end of an important period for lovers of classic Hollywood or independent cinema.
