‘One Last Hurrah’: Gena Rowlands’ Son Nick Cassavetes Shares Heartfelt Tribute For Late Mom After Her Passing At 94

by

As a dedicated follower and admirer of Gena Rowlands’ illustrious career, I am deeply saddened by her passing at 94. Having grown up watching her mesmerizing performances on screen, it was an honor to witness her incredible talent firsthand when we collaborated on The Notebook in 2004.

As a devoted son to the legendary actress Gena Rowlands, I, Nick Cassavetes, will strive to keep her memory alive and her spirit burning brightly in our hearts. In the twilight of her life on August 14th, 2019, she passed away peacefully at home in Indian Wells, California due to respiratory complications. By her side were her beloved husband, Robert, their daughter Alexandra, and numerous other family members who cherished her deeply.

The day following her passing, Cassavetes also shared a touching tribute to his mother on Instagram. Alongside a photo of them both smiling, he penned: “One final goodbye. Love you, mom. I’ll see you soon…” This post can be interpreted as the son expressing his heartfelt farewell to his beloved mother, taking into account their close relationship and Cassavetes’ status as an actress.

65-year-old Nick Cassavetes continues to honor and commemorate his mother, Gena Rowlands, by sharing tributes on Stories. Among these posts, there’s an easily recognizable picture of Rowlands in a scene from the 1980 movie Gloria, where she portrayed the main character.

Another slide included a close-up photograph of Rowlands with her husband John Cassavetes caressing his hand while acting in their 1977 film Opening Night. The message that was sent along with the photograph said, “Another great team reunited! RIP Gena Rowlands,” which indicated the closeness of the couple that was portrayed in the series and in their actual lives. John was married to Gena S. and they were blessed with three children namely, Nick, Alexandra, and Zoe before the demise of John in 1989 through cirrhosis disease complications at the age of 59 years.

In 2012, Robert Forrest, who was once a businessman retired by Rowland, is affectionately known as Bob by Nick. Their union provided comfort and companionship for Rowland during her later years. Through these lines, Cassavetes honors his mother’s life – a dedicated career woman – and the deep-seated love that he and his father cherished from her.

The death of Gena Rowlands at age 94 deeply impacts her family and friends, particularly Nick Cassavetes. Their bond was a powerful blend of personal and professional ties, especially when they collaborated on the movie “The Notebook” in 2004. In this film, Rowlands played Allie, a character with Alzheimer’s disease, a condition that Rowlands herself would experience later in life.

Two months prior to Lisa’s passing, Nick shared during an Entertainment Weekly interview that his mother had been battling Alzheimer’s disease for the past five years. Reflecting on their work together in The Notebook, he revealed that they had dedicated significant effort towards understanding Alzheimer’s disease so as to portray the movie’s events authentically. However, the filmmaking process took a heart-wrenching turn as Rowlands started developing dementia herself.

He shared with Entertainment Weekly that he managed to cast his mother as the older version of the character Allie, and they spent a significant amount of time discussing Alzheimer’s disease in an effort to portray it authentically. Unfortunately, for the past five years, she has been living with Alzheimer’s.

In the course of filming, Cassavetes managed to portray the uncanny nature of the shooting, as he had never anticipated that his mother would exhibit signs of Alzheimer’s until she was officially diagnosed. Interestingly, The Notebook is a well-known movie, and Cassavetes almost expressed his satisfaction with its production and the public’s response, stating, “She’s in the throes of dementia. And it’s amazing — we experienced it, she portrayed it, and now it’s part of our legacy.”

Today, Rowlands’ influence remains significant, marked by the effects of her various roles and the tales shared by those who knew her personally. Undeniably, her career as a producer and the account of her life are deeply intertwined with the memorable and beloved character she portrayed as Allie.

Read More

2024-08-16 19:52