Gena Rowlands Has Alzheimers For Final 5 Years
Gena Rowlands is an appearing legend. The 94-year-old star’s unbeatable profession stretches throughout six many years, with a number of Oscar nominations in addition to roles in lots of basic movies.
Should you’re of a sure age, it is fairly doable one of many first occasions you noticed Gena on the silver display screen was within the 2004 blockbuster romantic drama The Pocket book, which was tailored from the e book of the identical title by Nicholas Sparks.
Within the movie, Gena portrayed the older model of Allie, who suffers from Alzheimer’s illness. (Rachel McAdams, as you effectively know, performed Allie’s youthful model.)
The Pocket book was additionally directed by Gena’s son Nick Cassavetes. His father was late actor and legendary filmmaker John Cassavetes, who additionally made a number of movies with Gena like A Lady Beneath the Affect and Gloria.
In a brand new interview with Leisure Weekly, Nick revealed that Gena has additionally been battling Alzheimer’s for the final 5 years.
“I acquired my mother to play older Allie, and we spent plenty of time speaking about Alzheimer’s and eager to be genuine with it,” Nick instructed the publication. “And now, for the final 5 years, she’s had Alzheimer’s.”
“She’s in full dementia. And it is so loopy — we lived it, she acted it, and now it is on us.”
As EW factors out, Gena’s mom additionally suffered from Alzheimer’s later in life — and in a 2004 interview with O journal, she mirrored on her position in The Pocket book in gentle of her household historical past.
“This final one — The Pocket book, primarily based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks — was significantly laborious as a result of I play a personality who has Alzheimer’s,” she mentioned. “I went by way of that with my mom, and if Nick hadn’t directed the movie, I do not suppose I’d have gone for it — it is simply too laborious.”
“It was a troublesome however great film.”
You’ll be able to learn your entire interview with Nick right here.