Matinee Classics - Gena Rowlands Biography & Filmography

Gena Rowlands ACTOR

PHOTOS

GENA ROWLANDS BIOGRAPHY & FILMOGRAPHY:

Gena Rowlands was born on June 19th, 1930 in Madison, Wisconsin with the birth name Virginia Cathryn Rowlands. Her parents were Edwyn Myrwyn Rowlands and Mary Allen Neal. She was raised in Cambria, Wisconsin and then in 1942 her family relocated to Minneapolis, Minnesota.

After she completed Washington-Lee High School, Rowlands enrolled at the University of Wisconsin in 1947 and then in 1950 she left college and relocated to New York to study drama at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

She first began acting as a stage actress appearing with repertory theatre companies. It did not take long before she debuted on Broadway in a production of, "The Seven Year Itch". After gaining some more stage experience she was soon given the opportunity to work on such television series as, "Robert Montgomery Presents", "Kraft Television Theatre", "Ponds Theater", "Studio One in Hollywood", "Good Year Playhouse" and "The United States Steel Hour".

As her career progressed she would go on to earn four Emmy's and two Golden Globe Awards. During the 60's, Rowland continued to work not only on television but films as well. Some of her early film roles were on, "The Spiral Road" (1962), "Lonely Are the Brave" (1962) starring Kirk Douglas and Walter Matthau, "A Child is Waiting" (1963), "Tony Rome" (1967) starring Frank Sinatra and such television series as, "Run for Your Life", "The Roads West", "Burke's Law", "Bonanza", "The Virginian", "Riverboat", "Breaking Point" "77 Sunset Strip" and "Dr. Kildare".

Gena Rowlands has married only one time to actor, John Cassavetes in 1954 and they had three children and remained married until he passed away on February 3rd, 1989. With her husband they appeared on he big screen in a total of ten films such as, "A Child is Waiting" (1963), "Faces" (1968), "A Woman Under the Influence" (1974) and "Love Streams" (1984) among others.

She has received numerous honors throughout her time spent in Hollywood such as being nominated for two Academy Awards, eight Emmy's, eight Golden Globes, three Satellite Awards and one SAG Award.

Her son, Nick Cassavetes also became involved in the entertainment industry working as a director. He directed his mother in he film, 'The Notebook" (2004) starring Ryan Gosling, Rachel McAdams and James Garner. Other more recent roles she has added to her resume over he course of her career are in the films, "Broken English" (2007), "Persepolis" (2007), "Olive" (2011) and the television series, "Monk" (2009) and "NCIS" (2010). She is currently set to be seen on the big screen in, "Yellow" which is still in post production.