Great! Roommates, this is an unfortunate example of art mirroring real life. Gena RowlandsThe actress, who played the role of an elderly wife with Alzheimer’s disease in ‘The Notebook’, is now living with the same disease.
her son, Nick Cassavetesrecently offered Weekly entertainment with update. For those who don’t know, Nick directed the 2004 romance film, which remains a cult classic in American pop culture.
Latest Update on Gena Rowlands’ Health
As mentioned, Gena portrayed Allie in her final years, living in a nursing home with dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease. ‘The Notebook’ sees her husband Noah, played by James Garner, recounting their love story in the hope that she will remember their life together. And she did, in those very brief moments, before she died.
When Gena Rowlands took on the role, she was in her early 70s. Now, at 93, her son Nick says she is experiencing symptoms very similar to those of her film character. He spoke out about this issue before the film’s 20th anniversary today (June 25).
Like the older Allie, Gena also suffered from severe dementia after being diagnosed about five years ago.
“I told my mom to play the older Allie and we spent a lot of time talking about Alzheimer’s and wanting to be authentic about it, and now, for the last five years, she’s had Alzheimer. “She has complete memory loss. And it was crazy — we lived, she acted and now the responsibility is on us.”
Gena previously spoke about why she agreed to play a character with Alzheimer’s disease
According to this source, Gena’s mother, Lady Rowlands, also has Alzheimer’s disease. Faced with the pain of that real-life experience, Gena had previously said that she would give up the role. Part of the reason she continued to act in ‘The Notebook’ was because her son Nick was the film’s director.
“I have acted in several projects directed by Nick. This last part… was especially difficult because I play a character with Alzheimer’s disease. I went through that with my mother, and if Nick hadn’t directed the movie, I don’t think I would have done it – it would have been too difficult. It was a difficult but great film,” Gena told O Magazine in 2004.
Nick did not elaborate on his mother’s daily life with the disease or her care. However, Alzheimer’s Association List Some of the following signs are both signs and early symptoms of the disease: memory loss that disrupts daily life, challenges with planning and problem solving, difficulty completing tasks familiar tasks, confusion about time and place, and inability to retrace steps.
Despite the current circumstances, the director mentioned that, even 20 years later, he is still proud of their work on ‘The Notebook’.
“I’m glad it exists,” Nick told ET. “It seems to have worked and I’m very proud of it.”
Please pray for Gena Rowlands and their family during this time!
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What do you think Roomies?
