Gena Rowlands: A Legacy of Powerful Performances
Gena Rowlands, who has died aged 94, was known for her commanding presence in the tradition of strong-willed performers like Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. Unlike them, however, Rowlands remained an actor at heart, rather than chasing stardom. Critic Kent Jones noted that she was “a little too weird for superstardom.”
Gena Rowlands did her most fearless work alongside her husband, independent director John Cassavetes, as part of a repertory company that included Peter Falk, Ben Gazzara, and Seymour Cassel. Their collaborations were known for their raw, demanding, and improvisational nature, with Minnie and Moskowitz (1971) being one of their gentler films. Roger Ebert praised her performance in this film as “beautiful.”
Gena Rowlands delivered her most iconic performance in A Woman Under the Influence (1974), where she portrayed a wife and mother struggling with her mental health. The role earned her the first of two Oscar nominations, and her portrayal was described by Kent Jones as “an imaginative feat.”
Gena Rowlands continued to challenge herself in roles like Myrtle in Opening Night (1977) and the gun-toting former showgirl in Gloria (1980), which brought her a second Oscar nomination. Her versatility and blend of tenderness with toughness were qualities she admired in her screen idol, Marlene Dietrich.
Gena Rowlands was born in Madison, Wisconsin, and showed early signs of becoming a performer. After studying English at the University of Wisconsin, she pursued her passion for acting in New York. There, she met John Cassavetes, whom she married in 1954. Their contrasting personalities sparked a creative partnership that would become one of cinema’s greatest.
Gena Rowlands began her acting career in repertory and summer stock before making her Broadway debut. She transitioned into film and television, with early roles in The High Cost of Loving (1958) and Lonely Are the Brave (1962), a personal favorite.
Gena Rowlands collaborated with Cassavetes on a series of films that became critical successes, including Faces (1968) and Love Streams (1984). Their final work together was in the play A Woman of Mystery (1987), shortly before Cassavetes’s death.
Gena Rowlands continued to work in various roles, from Paul Schrader’s Light of Day (1987) to Woody Allen’s Another Woman (1988). She was particularly memorable in Jim Jarmusch’s Night on Earth (1991) and Terence Davies’s The Neon Bible (1995).
Gena Rowlands later collaborated with her son Nick Cassavetes in films like Unhook the Stars (1996) and The Notebook (2004). She also wrote and acted in Paris, Je T’Aime (2006) and appeared in her daughter Zoe’s film Broken English (2007).
Gena Rowlands consistently took roles on television, winning several Emmys for her performances in TV films like The Betty Ford Story (1987) and Hysterical Blindness (2002). She remained active in television into her later years, appearing in series like Monk and NCIS.
Gena Rowlands received an honorary Oscar in 2015, recognizing her immense contributions to the film industry. Earlier this year, it was revealed that she had been suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.
Gena Rowlands is survived by her three children, Nick, Zoe, and Alexandra.
Gena (Virginia Cathryn) Rowlands, actor, born 19 June 1930; died 14 August 2024.