Gena Rowlands, Actress Who Brought Raw Drama to Her Roles, Dies at 94

Renowned for her portrayal of characters on the brink of emotional extremes, she received two Oscar nominations for her performances in films directed by her husband, John Cassavetes.

Aug. 14, 2024

By M Muzamil Shami

      In 2014, actress Gena Rowlands was a year away from being honored with an Academy Award recognizing her extensive contributions to the film industry. This          prestigious award celebrated her remarkable body of work. Photo credit goes to Chris Pizzello/Invision, courtesy of the Associated Press.

Gena Rowlands, renowned for her intense and graceful dramatic performances, often collaborated with her husband, John Cassavetes, to star in several introspective independent films. She passed away at the age of 94.

Her death was confirmed on Wednesday evening by Daniel Greenberg's office, who represents her son, director Nick Cassavetes. Details regarding the time, place, or cause of her passing were not disclosed. In June, it was revealed that Rowlands had been living with Alzheimer's disease for the past five years.

Rowlands, known for portraying characters on the brink of breakdown or under the influence, received two Oscar nominations for Best Actress under the direction of John Cassavetes. Her first nomination was for her role in “A Woman Under the Influence” (1974), where she played a vulnerable, desperate character institutionalized by her working-class husband, portrayed by Peter Falk, due to his inability to cope with her mental state. Roger Ebert, writing for The Chicago Sun-Times, described her performance as “so touchingly vulnerable to every kind of influence around her that we don’t want to tap her because she might fall apart.”

Her second nomination recognized her performance in the 1980 film "Gloria," where she portrayed the role of a gangster's girlfriend who escapes with a young orphan.

       In "Faces," featuring Ms. Rowlands and John Marley, Renata Adler from The New York Times described the film as "a really important movie"

       that explores "the way things are." The movie, like several others starring Ms. Rowlands, was directed by her husband, John Cassavetes. (Photo Credit:

       United Archives, via Getty Images)

The collaboration between Cassavetes and Rowlands first captured widespread attention with the film "Faces" (1968), where she played a young prostitute alongside John Marley. The film generated significant buzz among critics, with Renata Adler of The New York Times labeling it "a really important movie" that portrays "the way things are," and Roger Ebert describing it as "astonishing."