Gena Rowlands, actress of ‘The Notebook’, dies at 94: What was the cause of death?
Actress Gena Rowlands, who played Allie Calhoun in the hit movie ‘The Notebook’ and won awards for her roles in film and TV, has died at the age of 94.
Actress Gena Rowlands, who played the adult version of Allie Calhoun in the hit tearjerker film ‘The Notebook,’ has passed away at the age of 94.
According to a report from TMZ, the retired actress died Wednesday afternoon at her home in Indian Wells, California, where she was surrounded by her family, including her husband, Robert Forrest, and daughter Alexandra Cassavetes.
The Emmy-winning actress had been battling Alzheimer’s disease. Her son, Nick Cassavetes, announced the diagnosis in June.
At the time, the actress’s son said that Rowlands had been suffering from the disease for five years and was in a state of “full dementia.”
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Who is Gena Rowlands?
Rowlands was known for her nuanced and powerful performances in both film and television. She is particularly famous for her collaborations with her late husband, director John Cassavetes, and is widely regarded as one of the most talented actresses of her generation.
One of her projects with Cassavetes, A Woman Under the Influence (1974) is probably her most famous role. She starred as Mabel Longhetti, a housewife struggling with mental illness, in this critically acclaimed film. Her performance earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.
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In 2015, Rowlands was awarded an Honorary Academy Award for her contributions to the art of acting. She also had a successful television career, earning multiple Emmy Awards.
The late actress was known for her intense and complex portrayals of characters, and is viewed as a trailblazer for women in film. The movies she made with her husband are considered landmarks of independent cinema.