One of the great actors of her generation has reportedly died at the age of 94.
Multiple outlets reported on Wednesday the death of legendary actor Gena Rowlands, who is best known for her performances in her husband John Cassavetes’ films like A Woman Under the Influence, Faces, Minnie and Moskowitz and Gloria, just to name a few.
She also gained new fans later in her filmography with a memorable role in her son Nick Cassavetes’ 2004 romance The Notebook.
Rowlands earned Oscar nominations in the Best Actress category for A Woman Under the Influence and Gloria and received an Honorary Academy Award in 2015, cementing her legacy as a singular talent on screen.
She also won three Emmy Awards, including one for playing former First Lady Betty Ford, and two Golden Globe Awards.
She also appeared in films like Hope Floats, Tempest, The Brink’s Job, Tony Rome and The Neon Bible during her career. Her final screen credit came in 2014 with the comedy Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks.
With news of her death, film fans paid tribute to a truly remarkable career.
RIP Gena Rowlands. One of the few performers who I could actively make a case for as one of the greatest actors to ever do it. Your performances in Opening Night and A Women Under the Influence are some of the greatest committed to celluloid pic.twitter.com/2vbqidYJtK
— Joshua Gynther (@joshuagynther) August 15, 2024
Gena Rowlands (1930–2024) pic.twitter.com/X9aK2uYPNU
— Letterboxd (@letterboxd) August 15, 2024
Gena Rowlands was one of the greats. Such a talent. I know everyone will talk about “A Woman Under the Influence” – an excellent performance – but her work in “Opening Night” is my absolute favorite. pic.twitter.com/9w1EZSSABn
— Morgan (@msmlroberts) August 15, 2024
Gena Rowlands was a phenomenal talent who changed the acting scene through her talent, strength, and vulnerability. She was always a captivating watch who told entire histories of characters in little movements and mannerisms.
So it goes. pic.twitter.com/eUAwq4aMXi
— Rob Dean (@neuroticmonkey) August 15, 2024
R.I.P. Gena Rowlands (1930–2024) pic.twitter.com/3toGNNtAkK
— The Film Stage 📽 (@TheFilmStage) August 15, 2024
"I can never have a poker face. Anybody looking at me can tell exactly what I'm thinking." – Gena Rowlands
And that's precisely what I loved about her most. Ebert said the key to Cassavetes is knowing that she always played John. She was nothing less than 100% authentic. #RIP pic.twitter.com/OIqiZl6WcW
— Jen Johans (@FilmIntuition) August 15, 2024
The greatest actress of a generation is gone.
I'm not sure I can pick a favorite performance because all of Gena Rowlands' performances felt like revelations. Some days it's A WOMAN UNDER THE INFLUENCE. On others it's OPENING NIGHT. Even her later turns are sterling.
— Robert Daniels @ Locarno (@812filmreviews) August 15, 2024
Gena Rowlands (1930-2024) pic.twitter.com/252sJ6TA3I
— MUBI US (@mubiusa) August 15, 2024
I’m beyond devastated. Gena Rowlands will always be one of my heroes, and seeing her in A WOMAN UNDER THE INFLUENCE (‘74) changed my life completely. I’d never seen a screen portrayal so similar to my mom, and I wrote Gena an emotional letter which she so graciously replied to. pic.twitter.com/JSUj4eEgEJ
— Samantha Richardson 💕 (@classicfilmgeek) August 15, 2024
rest in peace, Gena Rowlands. one of the greatest actors to ever grace the screen. pic.twitter.com/ESXhuUODZE
— The Cinegogue (@TheCinegogue) August 15, 2024
Heartbreaking news. My favorite actress of all time Gena Rowlands has passed away. There will never be another, don't even try to convince me. #rip #puretalent pic.twitter.com/oKjcnCPdZG
— Saverio Guerra (@saverio825) August 15, 2024
We should all be as lucky as John Cassavetes was to find Gena Rowlands.
— DrewMcWeeny (@DrewMcWeeny) August 15, 2024
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