Gena Rowlands Cause of Death: What Happened to ‘The Notebook’ and ‘Gloria’ Star?

• Gena Rowlands died at her home in Indian Wells, California, on August 14, 2024, at the age of 94.
• The cause of death was not immediately disclosed, but her son, Nick Cassavetes, had revealed earlier this year that Rowlands had been battling Alzheimer’s disease for the past five years.
• Rowlands had an illustrious career spanning over six decades, earning two Academy Award nominations, three Primetime Emmy Awards, one Daytime Emmy, and two Golden Globes.
• She was known for her collaborations with her husband, John Cassavetes, and her son, Nick Cassavetes, who directed her in the 2004 film “The Notebook.”

Gena Rowlands, the acclaimed actress known for her powerful performances in films like “The Notebook” and “Gloria,” died on August 14, 2024, at the age of 94. 

Gena Rowlands’ cause of death was not officially disclosed, but her son, Nick Cassavetes, had revealed earlier this year that she had been battling Alzheimer’s disease for the past five years.

The irony of her Alzheimer’s diagnosis was not lost on her fans, as she had portrayed a character with the same disease in her son’s film “The Notebook.”

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Nick Cassavetes spoke about the impact of his mother’s diagnosis, saying, “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 had Alzheimer’s. She’s in full dementia. And it’s so crazy — we lived it, she acted it, and now it’s on us.”

She earned two Academy Award nominations for her performances in “A Woman Under the Influence” (1974) and “Gloria” (1980), both directed by her husband, John Cassavetes.

She also won three Primetime Emmy Awards, one Daytime Emmy, and two Golden Globes throughout her career.

In 2015, Rowlands was awarded an honorary Academy Award in recognition of her work and legacy in Hollywood. During her acceptance speech, she said, “You know what’s wonderful about being an actress? You don’t just live one life. You live many lives.”

Gena Rowlands’ most notable collaborations were with her husband, John Cassavetes, and her son, Nick Cassavetes. She made 10 films with John Cassavetes over four decades, including “A Woman Under the Influence,” “Gloria,” and “Love Streams.”

Her son, Nick Cassavetes, directed her in the 2004 film “The Notebook,” which introduced her to a new generation of fans. She also appeared in her son’s 1996 film “Unhook the Stars.”