Gena Rowlands' Life and Career in Pictures

Mar. 15, 2025

Gena Rowlands.Photo: ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty

Gena Rowlandshad a memorable acting career that spanned film, stage and television.

Her death came a few months after her son revealed thatshe had been living with Alzheimer’sfor the past five years.Cassavetes, who directed his mother in 2004’sThe Notebook.reflected on working with her for the hit Nicholas Sparks adaptation as the film celebrated its 20th anniversary in June.

“I got my mom to play older Allie, and we spent a lot of time talking about Alzheimer’s and wanting to be authentic with it, and now, for the last five years, she’s hadAlzheimer’s,” Cassavetes toldEWabout his mother who played the older version ofRachael McAdams’ character in the film. “She’s in full dementia. And it’s so crazy — we lived it, she acted it, and now it’s on us.”

While Rowlands was well known for her role inThe Notebook, she had many notable acting credits to her name, includingA Woman Under the InfluenceandGloria, both of which earned her Oscar nominations for Best Actress.

Revisit her life and career in photos ahead.

01of 12Gena Rowlands' Life Before ActingJohn Springer Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via GettyBornVirginia Cathryn “Gena” Rowlands on June 19, 1930, to Mary Allen and Edwin Myrwyn Rowlands, the actress grew up in Wisconsin.She attended the University of Wisconsin from 1947-50, whereshe was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma. She eventually moved to New York City to study drama at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

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Gena Rowlands' Life Before Acting

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BornVirginia Cathryn “Gena” Rowlands on June 19, 1930, to Mary Allen and Edwin Myrwyn Rowlands, the actress grew up in Wisconsin.

She attended the University of Wisconsin from 1947-50, whereshe was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma. She eventually moved to New York City to study drama at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

02of 12Gena Rowlands and John Cassavetes' Love StoryGettyAfter meeting director John Cassavetes at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, the two married on April 9, 1954. They were together for almost 35 years before his death on Feb. 3, 1989.Over the course of their relationship, Rowlands and Cassavetes worked together on 10 films, includingA Child Is Waiting,Faces,Machine Gun McCain,Minnie and Moskowitz,A Woman Under the Influence,Two-Minute Warning,Opening Night,Gloria,Tempest, andLove Streams.

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Gena Rowlands and John Cassavetes' Love Story

Getty

After meeting director John Cassavetes at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, the two married on April 9, 1954. They were together for almost 35 years before his death on Feb. 3, 1989.

Over the course of their relationship, Rowlands and Cassavetes worked together on 10 films, includingA Child Is Waiting,Faces,Machine Gun McCain,Minnie and Moskowitz,A Woman Under the Influence,Two-Minute Warning,Opening Night,Gloria,Tempest, andLove Streams.

03of 12Gena Rowlands and John Cassavetes' ChildrenToni Anne Barson Archive/WireImageRowlands and Cassavetes had three children together: Nick Cassavetes, born on May 21, 1959; Alexandra “Xan” Cassavetes, born on Sept. 21, 1965; and Zoe Cassavetes, born on June 29, 1970. All three children followed in their famous parents' footsteps and are actors and directors.Rowlands' children joined her forThe Notebookpremiere at the Deauville American Film Festival in September 2004. Pictured clockwise from left, Xan, Nick’s daughter, Nick, Gena, and Zoe.

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Gena Rowlands and John Cassavetes' Children

Toni Anne Barson Archive/WireImage

Rowlands and Cassavetes had three children together: Nick Cassavetes, born on May 21, 1959; Alexandra “Xan” Cassavetes, born on Sept. 21, 1965; and Zoe Cassavetes, born on June 29, 1970. All three children followed in their famous parents' footsteps and are actors and directors.

Rowlands' children joined her forThe Notebookpremiere at the Deauville American Film Festival in September 2004. Pictured clockwise from left, Xan, Nick’s daughter, Nick, Gena, and Zoe.

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Gena Rowlands in A Woman Under the Influence

C Tavin/Everett/Shutterstock

05of 12Gena Rowlands' Golden Globe WinsFrank Edwards/Fotos International/Archive Photos/GettyIn addition to receiving an Oscar nomination forA Woman Under the Influence, Rowlands also won her first Golden Globe for the film in 1974.She later won her second Golden Globe in 1987 for her role inThe Betty Ford Story, in whichshe played former first lady Betty Ford. In total, Rowlands has received eight Golden Globes nominations.

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Gena Rowlands' Golden Globe Wins

Frank Edwards/Fotos International/Archive Photos/Getty

In addition to receiving an Oscar nomination forA Woman Under the Influence, Rowlands also won her first Golden Globe for the film in 1974.

She later won her second Golden Globe in 1987 for her role inThe Betty Ford Story, in whichshe played former first lady Betty Ford. In total, Rowlands has received eight Golden Globes nominations.

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Gena Rowlands in Opening Night

For her role, Rowlands received the Silver Bear award for best actress at the Berlin International Film Festival in 1977.

07of 12Gena Rowlands in GloriaColumbia/Kobal/ShutterstockGloriamarked one of Rowlands' final projects with Cassavetes before his death in 1989. The film earned her a second Oscar nomination for Best Actress, as well as another Golden Globes nomination.

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Gena Rowlands in Gloria

Columbia/Kobal/Shutterstock

Gloriamarked one of Rowlands' final projects with Cassavetes before his death in 1989. The film earned her a second Oscar nomination for Best Actress, as well as another Golden Globes nomination.

08of 12Gena Rowlands' Emmy Award WinsRon Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via GettyIn 1987, Rowlands won her first Emmy Award: outstanding actress in a miniseries or a movie for her role inThe Betty Ford Story.She also won outstanding actress in a miniseries or a movie forFace of a Strangerin 1992 and outstanding supporting actress in a miniseries or movie forHysterical Blindnessin 2003. In total, Rowlands has received eight Emmy nominations.

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Gena Rowlands' Emmy Award Wins

Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty

In 1987, Rowlands won her first Emmy Award: outstanding actress in a miniseries or a movie for her role inThe Betty Ford Story.

She also won outstanding actress in a miniseries or a movie forFace of a Strangerin 1992 and outstanding supporting actress in a miniseries or movie forHysterical Blindnessin 2003. In total, Rowlands has received eight Emmy nominations.

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Gena Rowlands in Another Woman

Brian Hamill/Orion/Kobal/Shutterstock

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Gena Rowlands in The Notebook

Rowlands inThe Notebook.Courtesy Everette Collection

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Gena Rowlands and Robert Forrest’s Love Story

RYAN MCCUNE/Patrick McMullan via Getty

The couple eventually got married in 2012 and have made a number of public appearances together over the years, including premieres for Rowlands' filmsThe NotebookandHysterical Blindness.

12of 12Gena Rowlands' Later AccomplishmentsROBYN BECK/AFP via GettyAfter receiving two Oscar nominations prior, Rowlands was given an Honorary Academy Award in November 2015 during the 7th annual Governors Awards ceremony.During her speech, she thanked her late husband Cassavetes for his contribution to her career. “You know what is wonderful about being an actress?” she said at the time. “You live many lives.“That same year, she stated that she was officially retired from acting during a conversation withThe Hollywood Reporter, though she joked she would certainly read a script if Steven Spielberg approached her.In the years following, Rowlands stepped out of the spotlight. In June 2024, asThe Notebookcelebrated its milestone 20th anniversary, her son revealed thatRowlands had been living with Alzheimer’s diseasefor the past five years.

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Gena Rowlands' Later Accomplishments

ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty

After receiving two Oscar nominations prior, Rowlands was given an Honorary Academy Award in November 2015 during the 7th annual Governors Awards ceremony.

During her speech, she thanked her late husband Cassavetes for his contribution to her career. “You know what is wonderful about being an actress?” she said at the time. “You live many lives.”

That same year, she stated that she was officially retired from acting during a conversation withThe Hollywood Reporter, though she joked she would certainly read a script if Steven Spielberg approached her.

In the years following, Rowlands stepped out of the spotlight. In June 2024, asThe Notebookcelebrated its milestone 20th anniversary, her son revealed thatRowlands had been living with Alzheimer’s diseasefor the past five years.

source: people.com