Gena Rowlands, the esteemed actress best known for portraying the older Allie in The Notebook, has passed away at the age of 94. She died at her home in Indian Wells, California, with her son, filmmaker Nick Cassavetes, confirming her passing. Rowlands had been battling Alzheimer’s disease for the past five years.
Throughout her illustrious career, Rowlands earned widespread recognition, winning four Emmy Awards and receiving two Academy Award nominations for her performances in A Woman Under the Influence and Gloria. She also won two Golden Globe Awards, cementing her legacy as one of Hollywood’s most revered actresses.
Her son, Nick Cassavetes, reflected on the poignancy of her portrayal of Allie’s dementia in The Notebook, noting the bittersweet irony of facing the same illness in real life after having depicted it so powerfully on screen.