How did Gena Rowlands meet John Cassavates? Love story explored as The Notebook star dies aged 94

Gena Rowlands, who gained recognition for her performance as the old version of Allison "Allie" Calhoun in The Notebook, passed away on August 14, 2024. Although the cause of death is yet to be confirmed, she died at the age of 94 at her residence in California.

A representative for her son and filmmaker Nick Cassavetes confirmed the news of her demise to CBS. Nick had previously mentioned in June that Rowlands had Alzheimer's disease.

The late actress was also in the headlines for her marriage to John Cassavetes and the latter was similarly active in the entertainment industry. The pair collaborated on different projects over the years, such as Machine Gun McCain and Two-Minute Warning. The duo enrolled at the American Academy of the Dramatic Arts in 1950 where they first met.

Following John's demise in 1989, Gena Rowlands exchanged vows with retired businessman Robert Forrest in 2012. While speaking to Variety in July 2016, Forrest addressed the actress' success in the film industry and referred to her film A Woman Under the Influence by saying:

"I found it so touching."

Well-known faces from the world of films and television expressed their grief on social media. Halloween star Jamie Lee Curtis wrote on Facebook:

"She was one of the greats and for me a guide. Certainly Donna was an homage to her. Watch A Woman Under the Influence! Rest in the knowledge that you were admired and respected."

Gena's father Edwin M. Ronalds was a banker and state legislator. On the other hand, Gena's mother Mary Allen worked in a lot of films and additionally pursued a career as a painter.

Also known as Virginia Cathryn "Gena" Rowlands, she went to the University of Wisconsin, and her successful journey started on television with the spy series Top Secret. She then continued playing important roles in different projects.

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Gena Rowlands and John Cassavetes were married for more than 30 years: Relationship and other details explored

The Cambria, Wisconsin native accumulated a huge fanbase with her flawless work on screen. However, her marriage to John Cassavetes was also a separate story in itself. As mentioned, the duo was romantically linked after coming to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts together.

In an interview with The New York Times in July 2016, Gena Rowlands recalled her days at the academy. She added that she tried to avoid the classes and listen to the opera singers at the auditorium. The actress said that she wanted to be a part of the acting industry and never intended to form a romantic connection followed by marriage.

Notably, John was the one who approached her at first and although they formed a relationship at that moment, Gena mentioned that it took around three years for John to convince her to be with him forever. They tied the knot in April 1954 and had three children, Nick, Alexandra, and Zoe.

While the duo worked together in many films, the most successful one among them was the drama film A Woman Under the Influence. Back in 2015, Rowlands addressed John's process of making films by saying:

"He loved actors, and he had a particular interest in women. Women in movies, I should say! He was interested in women's problems and where they are in society and what they have to overcome. He offered me some really wonderful parts."

Gena Rowlands appeared for an interview with Christy's Inkwells the following year (January 2016) and revealed how John made his films. She said:

"John would always shoot his films in sequence with the script, and that made such a big difference for the actors. You never felt as though someone was about to come down on you when you were working with John. He would never let you stop yourself during a scene."

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Gena Rowlands was battling Alzheimer's disease before her death

Rowlands had many films under her credits such as Two-Minute Warning, Opening Night, Light of Day, Night on Earth, and Broken English. Furthermore, Gena Rowlands was struggling with Alzheimer's disease and her son Nick revealed the news to Entertainment Weekly in June this year in a statement.

"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."

Nick recalled the time when he was making The Notebook with his mother, saying that she was once frustrated with the reshoots. He added that when he asked her if she could do it, she replied that she could do anything. Nick continued:

"I promise you, on my father's life, this is true: Teardrops came flying out of her eyes when she saw [Garner], and she burst into tears. And I was like, okay, well, we got that… It's the one time I was in trouble on set."

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Apart from Nick, Gena Rowlands' survivors include her husband Robert Forrest alongside her two other children, Alexandra and Zoe.