Gena Rowlands: The Heartache and Humor

US actress Gena Rowlands, whose career spanned six decades and earned her Oscar nominations and critical acclaim, passed away on Wednesday at age 94. Although no official cause of death was immediately disclosed, her son Nick Cassavetes had previously shared that she had been battling Alzheimer’s disease for five years.

Rowlands’s expressive range brought life to numerous poignant and original films, many of which were directed by her late husband, John Cassavetes. Together, they created a captivating and dynamic on-screen duo, delving into themes of passion and self-destruction, often amidst backdrops of alcohol and infidelity.

Her role in “A Woman Under the Influence” (1974), widely regarded as her finest, earned her the first of two Oscar nominations. In this film, Rowlands masterfully depicted a woman’s descent into mental illness. Woody Allen once remarked on her authenticity, stating she was “incapable of an unreal moment.” Winona Ryder also praised her, noting an inherent nobility, strength, and class in her work.

From the beginning, Rowlands’s performances hinted at shades of Marilyn Monroe – the blonde hair, striking beauty, and an undertone of sadness and vulnerability. However, Rowlands constantly challenged the notion of women as mere objects of desire. She matured in her craft as Monroe faced her own personal struggles, culminating in Monroe’s tragic suicide in 1962.

John Cassavetes, her frequent collaborator, lauded her dedication and purity. He emphasized that she did not focus on looking good or the cinematic aspects, but on making the audience believe in her performance.

Born on June 19, 1930, in Cambria, Wisconsin, Rowlands came from a cultured middle-class family. Her father served as a state senator, and her mother was a painter and occasional actress. She pursued her passion for acting at New York’s American Academy of Drama. It was there, in 1953, that she met John Cassavetes. They married a year later.

Their collaborations produced memorable films, with “A Woman Under the Influence” standing out. In this film, Rowlands portrayed Mabel, a housewife spiraling into madness due to years of subtle, complex dominance by her silent and hardworking husband, played by Peter Falk. One unforgettable scene features Mabel pleading with friends and family to stand up for her after a spaghetti meal, highlighting Rowlands’s raw emotional depth. Her portrayal left an indelible mark on American cinema, influencing directors like Martin Scorsese and Spike Lee.

In 1980, she starred in “Gloria,” a gangster comedy where she played a woman on the run from the mob with flair and conviction, earning her a second Oscar nomination. The film won the top prize at the Venice Film Festival. Despite Cassavetes’s death in 1989 from liver failure, Rowlands continued her illustrious career, making films and working in television, where she won four Emmys.

Rowlands and Cassavetes had three children, all of whom pursued careers in the film and television industry. Notably, her son Nick directed her in “The Notebook” in 2004. She remarried in 2012 to Robert Forrest, a retired businessman, and in 2015, she was honored with an honorary Academy Award. She retired from acting the same year.