Gena Rowlands tributes: Jamie Lee Curtis, Danny DeVito and more honor The Notebook actress after her death at 94
Reflecting upon the remarkable life of Gena Rowlands, I find myself awestruck by her indelible impact on both the big and small screens. Spanning seven decades, her career was nothing short of extraordinary, with collaborations that yielded some of her most memorable performances. The magic she shared with her late husband John Cassavetes, a partnership that produced ten films, is truly inspiring.
Actors from Hollywood expressed their respect and condolences online following the news of Gena Rowlands’ passing at the age of 94, shared earlier this week.
In simpler terms, it’s been announced that the two-time Golden Globe award recipient has sadly passed away at her residence in Indian Wells, California. At present, the reason behind her death remains undisclosed.
One way to rephrase the given sentence could be: Jamie Lee Curtis, an actor known for The Notebook, posted a picture on Instagram along with a touching tribute to the actress.
“The renowned actress, Gena Rowlands, has passed away,” said the Oscar winner, aged 65. “She was truly extraordinary and a mentor to me. In fact, the movie ‘Donna’ was a tribute to her. I encourage you all to watch ‘A Woman Under the Influence.’ Rest in peace knowing that you were deeply admired and respected.”
Danny DeVito, Amy Sedaris, Carrie Coon, among others, paid heartfelt homage to the influential woman in A Women Under the Influence, following Curtis’s example.
In simpler terms, “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” posted a message saying, “Gena, love,” accompanied by a heart symbol and an emoticon expressing sadness or frustration.
Actress Sedaris, who plays a role in The Mandalorian, shared photos of actor Rowlands across different films, including frames from A Woman Under the Influence.
“Sedaris expressed, ‘May Gena Rowlands rest in peace.’ There’s no one quite like her. Absolutely nobody. I’m really sad. #HeavenlySpirits”
Actor Michael Rapaport wrote, ‘Absolutely a game-changing actress. She was gorgeous and gritty.’
Additionally, film critic Richard Roeper honored the star by labeling Rowlands as a ‘scorching talent.’
As a devoted admirer, I’m sharing the personal update about my beloved role model, actress Faye Dunaway. Her son, Rowland Cassavetes’s offspring Nick Cassavetes, who directed her in the heart-warming 2004 film The Notebook alongside Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling, has disclosed a challenging news. Much like her character in The Notebook, my idol Faye herself has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly in June 2024, it was revealed that Gena had been fighting a disease for five years and was now experiencing advanced stages of dementia.
In simpler terms, Nick mentioned that his mother took on the role of ‘older Allie’, and they devoted much discussion to portraying Alzheimer’s accurately. For the past five years, his mother has been living with Alzheimer’s disease.
‘She’s in full dementia. And it’s so crazy — we lived it, she acted it, and now it’s on us.’
Despite having a long-standing Hollywood career spanning decades, it was Gena’s portrayal of Old Allie in The Notebook that transformed the film into an enduring romantic classic.
In simpler terms, “The Notebook” is a film adaptation of the 1996 novel by Nicholas Sparks, which narrates a heartfelt tale about two individuals – Noah, from a working-class background, and Allie, who comes from wealth. Despite their contrasting social statuses, they develop a profound love for each other, going against societal norms in the process.
The movie alternates scenes of the unusual pair during their passionate younger years with contemporary moments featuring an elderly man, who goes by ‘Duke’ in disguise, narrating their story to another senior citizen at a nursing home – his wife Allie (Gena Rowlands), struggling with dementia.
In an effort to maintain their romantic connection and remind Allie of their shared history despite her memory issues, Noah reads from a diary she wrote during the early stages of her illness. This diary chronicles their love story, helping him to refresh her memories about him.
In a 2004 conversation with O Magazine, Rowlands shared that her mother’s battle with the illness influenced her choice to portray Allie.
1. “I experienced similar circumstances with my mom, and without Nick’s guidance, I wouldn’t have considered participating in it – it was simply too challenging. The film was demanding yet beautiful.”
In June, Nick, who had directed his mom in The Notebook, reminisced about a poignant moment he shared with Entertainment Weekly.
Following the presentation of the finished movie to studio heads, they demanded a retake of certain scenes. More specifically, they felt that Rowlands needed to portray more intense emotions as her character recalls lost memories and meets her lover, Noah (played by James Garner), once again.
Nick shared the uncomfortable incident when he had to tell his mom about the reshoots, and her response wasn’t pleasant; “So, it’s my acting that requires a redo, is that correct?” she inquired.
According to Rowland’s son, they are heading back for retakes, and now the situation is like a mother being frustrated. He inquired, “Can you manage this, mom?”, to which she responded assertively, “I can handle anything.”
‘I promise you, on my father’s life, this is true: Teardrops came flying out of her eyes when she saw [Garner], and she burst into tears. And I was like, okay, well, we got that … It’s the one time I was in trouble on set.’
Nick isn’t just delighted about the movie’s long-standing status as a beloved romance cult classic over the past two decades; he also cherishes fond memories of the time spent working alongside his mother on set.
He expresses surprise at how much time has passed, yet it feels logical. What truly matters is its existence, he notes. Moreover, he’s pleased to see it functioning well and takes great pride in it.
Born in Wisconsin, Gena captivated audiences on both the big screen and the stage for a remarkable 70 years before deciding to retire from her illustrious career in 2014 at the age of 84.
A significant number of her top-notch acting roles occurred during collaborations with her actor-director spouse, John Cassavetes, who passed away in 1989 and is the father of their children Nick, Alexandra, and Zoe, all now adults at 54 years old.
10 films in total were collaborative projects for them, with standout performances in “A Woman Under the Influence” (1974) and “Gloria” (1980). These roles brought her nominations for the Best Actress Oscar on both occasions.
Though she lost out on the Oscars, A Woman Under the Influence earned her an acting Golden Globe.
Additionally, she appeared in the 1988 Woody Allen movie titled “Another Woman,” taking on the role of Marion Post, a philosophy professor who develops an intrigue towards a mental health patient named Hope.
Speaking as a dedicated admirer, let me share some insights about the small screen triumphs of the remarkable Gena. With four Emmy Awards under her belt, she has graced our televisions with her captivating performances in several critically acclaimed miniseries and films. Among them is The Betty Ford Story (1987), a role that left an indelible mark on viewers like myself.
She won both an Emmy and a Golden Globe for her portrayal of the former first lady.
2009 saw Gena receiving a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award, marking the final recognition of her career. This was for her outstanding performance as a guest star on the popular sitcom Monk on USA.
In the year 2015, Gena received an Honorary Academy Award which was handed to her by her son Nick, following her announcement of retiring from acting.
23 years following my beloved husband, John Cassavetes’ passing in 1989, I found myself tying the knot with the esteemed retiree, Robert Forrest.
They tied the knot in 2012 but they’d been romantically linked since the early 2000s.
Robert frequently attends premieres and events associated with Gena’s projects like Hysterical Blindness (2002), The Notebook (2004), and The Da Vinci Code (2006) alongside her.
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2024-08-15 20:20