Born on June 19, 1930 in Madison, Wisconsin, Gena Rowlands is a two-time Academy Award nominated and four-time Emmy Award-winning actress. The daughter of a banker, state legislator and a painter, Rowlands’ family moved several times due to the nature of her dad’s occupation. First, they transferred from Wisconsin to Washington, D.C. in 1939 for a position in the U.S. Department of Agriculture, then to Milwaukee, Wisconsin and finally to Minneapolis, Minnesota. Rowlands attended the University of Wisconsin where she is said to become very well-known for her beauty. This prompted her to go to New York to study drama at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
Rowlands started performing in stock companies during the 1950s. From 1952 to 1955, she went from understudy to lead in the original Broadway production of The Seven Year Itch. She subsequently toured in a national production of the play. In 1956, she starred opposite film icon Edward Robinson in Middle of the Night. This was followed by several anthology television series, such as Robert Montgomery Presents, Kraft Television Theater, and Studio. Meanwhile, she made her film debut in the 1958 picture The High Cost of Loving. She then had a deaf-mute role on the NBC series 87th Precinct and then on the ABC soap Peyton Place. Her other screen credits include A Child is Waiting, Faces, Love Streams, Minnie and Moskowitz, and She’s So Lovely. Meanwhile, she garnered Oscar nominations for Best Actress in the films Gloria and A Woman Under the Influence.
Much more recently, Rowlands was seen in The Notebook, which was directed by her son Nick Cassavetes. In 2004, she won her first Daytime Emmy for The Incredible Mrs. Ritchie, raising her credentials to eight Golden Globes, one Daytime Emmy, three Satellite Awards, and one Screen Actors’ Guild Award.
Spouse:
John Cassavetes (9 April 1954 - 3 February 1989) (his death) 3 children
Mother of Nick Cassavetes, Alexandra Cassavetes and Zoe R. Cassavetes.
She and John Cassavetes made 10 movies together: A Child Is Waiting (1963), Faces (1968/I), Gloria (1980), Love Streams (1984), Minnie and Moskowitz (1971), Opening Night (1977), A Woman Under the Influence (1974), Intoccabili, Gli (1969), Two-Minute Warning (1976) and Tempest (1982).
Sister of David Rowlands.
Name rhymes with henna.
Favorite actress of Maggie Gyllenhaal.
Grandmother of Sasha Cassavetes and Virginia Cassavetes.
On working with Bette Davis on the TV movie Strangers: The Story of a Mother and Daughter (1979) (TV)] When they offered that part opposite her, I didn't want to do it. I thought, what if all my illusions were broken? But I couldn't resist the temptation. She's no pussycat -- she's just a great and independent artist and I loved every minute working with her.
[On John Cassavetes] We had a great deal of freedom when John acted. We traveled a lot and it was fun. But with directing ... really. I think people don't have all their marbles who prefer directing to acting because you write for three months, you cut for maybe six months. He's the most terrifying perfectionist about what he wants. As an artist, I love him. As a husband, I hate him.