Gena Rowlands has died. She played a woman suffering from Alzheimer’s in “The Notebook”, but privately she herself struggled with the disease.
Actress Gena Rowlands (94) is dead. She died on August 14 at the age of 94 in her home in Indian Wells, California. She was surrounded by her family. The cause of death was not disclosed, but the film star was battling Alzheimer’s disease.
Role in “The Notebook”
Her son, director Nick Cassavetes (65), who shot the film “The Notebook” (2004) with his mother, made this known last June. He told “Entertainment Weekly” that it was “crazy” that his mother played a woman suffering from dementia in the romantic film and was herself battling the progressive disease.
His mother played the older version of Rachel McAdams’ (45) character in the film 20 years ago. The rest of the cast of “The Notebook” included Ryan Gosling (43), who played the young Noah Calhoun, and James Garner (1928-2014), who played the older version. Director Cassavetes said of the film: “I got my mother to play the older Allie and we spent a lot of time talking about Alzheimer’s and dealing with it authentically, and now she’s had Alzheimer’s for five years.”
Gena Rowlands was apparently initially hesitant to accept the role. “This last film – ‘The Notebook’, based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks – was particularly difficult because I play a character who has Alzheimer’s. I went through that with my mother and if Nick hadn’t directed the film, I don’t think I would have agreed to do it,” she explained. “It’s just very difficult. It was a hard but wonderful film,” she explained.
Collaboration with her husband
Rowlands was born Virginia Cathryn Rowlands in 1930 in Madison, Wisconsin. She trained as an actress at the Academy of Dramatic Art in New York City and initially acted in the theater. She made her screen debut in 1958 and numerous film roles followed, including “The Influence” (1974) and “Gloria, the Gangster’s Wife” (1980). She last appeared in front of the camera in 2014. Rowlands has won several Golden Globes and Emmys, and in 2015, after two nominations, she received an honorary Oscar for her lifetime achievement.
The actress was married to director John Cassavetes (1929-1989) from 1954 until his death in 1989, with whom she often worked. Her three children are also directors or actors. Rowlands has been married to businessman Robert Forrest since 2012.
Source: Stern
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