
Gena Rowlands, Honorary Oscar Recipient, Battles Alzheimer's as Her Son Reveals Diagnosis
Gena Rowlands, a renowned actor, battles Alzheimer's; her son, filmmaker Nick Cassavetes, disclosed her 5-year struggle, previously depicted in "The Notebook."

Renowned Hollywood actress and recipient of an honorary Academy Award, Gena Rowlands, has been disclosed to be battling Alzheimer's disease by her son, the filmmaker Nick Cassavetes.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly released on a Tuesday, Cassavetes disclosed that his mother has been combating Alzheimer's for the past five years. Notably, in the 2004 film "The Notebook," Cassavetes directed his mother, who portrayed the older persona of the character depicted by Rachel McAdams, as a woman afflicted by dementia.
Cassavetes expressed, "We spent a lot of time talking about Alzheimer's and wanting to be authentic with it, and now, for the last five years, she's had Alzheimer's. She's in full dementia. And it's so crazy —we lived it, she acted it, and now it's on us."
Familial Confirmation
A representative for Rowlands has confirmed Cassavetes' statement, asserting that he "speaks for the family." Rowlands, who was bestowed with an honorary Oscar in 2015, collaborated on 10 films with her husband, John Cassavetes, such as 1974's "A Woman Under the Influence" and 1980's "Gloria." She clinched Oscar nominations for both performances and secured four Emmy awards. Notably, her final credited performance was in the 2014 comedy "Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks."
Notably, Rowlands' mother, actor Lady Rowlands, also grappled with Alzheimer's. During the production of "The Notebook," Gena Rowlands shared her personal connection, revealing, "I went through that with my mother, and if Nick hadn't directed the film, I don't think I would have gone for it —it's just too hard. It was a tough but wonderful movie."
This revelation has shed light on the impact of Alzheimer's in the entertainment industry, particularly in the esteemed circles of the Hollywood Academy Awards, drawing attention to the personal and professional challenges faced by acclaimed performers.
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