Gena Rowlands, the irreproachable and Oscar-nominated star of cinematic classics like A Woman Under the Influence, Opening Night, Night on Earth, and The Notebook, died on Wednesday at her home in Indian Wells, California. She was 94.
A cause of death was not immediately shared. Rowlands was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2019, her family said earlier this year.
TMZ first reported Rowlands’ death on Wednesday night. A representative for her son, Nick Cassavetes, soon after confirmed the tabloid’s report to Variety and The Washington Post.
A four-time Emmy winner and two-time Oscar nominee, Rowlands was best-known for her onscreen collaborations with her husband, the actor and director John Cassavetes. As his muse, Rowlands starred in 10 of his films before his 1989 death, including 1974’s A Woman Under the Influence.
Her chimeric, ricocheting performance as Mabel Longhetti, a manic-depressive housewife to Peter Falk’s roughshod construction worker, was met with universal acclaim.