The Notebook Star Gena Rowlands Dies at 94

Gena Rowlands of The Notebook Dies 20 Years After Making of the Hit Film

THE NOTEBOOK – American actress Gena Rowlands who played as the older Allie in the 2004 blockbuster film died at the age of 94.

There are movies which hit success in a different level. These films are among those that became popular not only in their country origin but worldwide. Do you remember the movie about an elderly man who was narrating their love story to his wife with Alzheimer’s in a home for the aged?

The Notebook

The Notebook is one of the all-time favorite movies of countless people across the globe. It was directed by Nick Cassavetes in 2004 and it became a blockbuster hit. The film featured the love story of Noah and Allie that was hindered by several factors but overcame it all.

The Notebook Noah and Allie

In the said hit movie, the director’s mother, Gena Rowlands, played the character of the elder Allie, the woman with an Alzheimer’s in a home for the aged. Her husband, Noah/Duke, was telling her a love story that was actually their love story.

Their love story ended with Noah and Allie dying peacefully in each other’s arms. Recently, a sad update about Gena Rowlands who played as Allie in The Notebook crossed the surface.

Gena Rowlands

Based on an article on Pep, Gena Rowlands died at the age of 94 in her residence in Wells, California. The family has yet to reveal the cause of the death of their matriarch.

Rowlands was 74 years old when she played the character of the elder Allie in The Noteboook. In her entire career, the American actress bagged two (2) Best Actress awards in Golden Globe Awards. She first won the award in 1975 for her portrayal of her role in A Woman Under the Influence. It was followed by another Best Actress award in 1987 for her performance in the mini-series The Betty Ford story.

Undeniably, the character of Rowlands in the 2004 blockbuster film directed by her son was the role that she is most popular of. Based on the article, in real-life, she also had dementia as confirmed by her son in an interview with Entertainment Weekly.

According to Cassavetes, Gena Rowlands had dementia for around five (5) years already prior to her death today. Her son even revealed that she had “full dementia” and it was like her role coming true to life.

In a previous interview with Rowlands, the The Notebook star admitted that she might have not accepted to do the role if it was not her son who asked her to. She experienced dealing with Alzheimer’s through her own mother and it was hard. Meanwhile, after doing the movie, she said that it was “a tough but wonderful movies”.

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