Gena Rowlands

Rowlands in 2004, photo by Prphotos.com

Birth Name: Virginia Cathryn Rowlands

Date of Birth: June 19, 1930

Place of Birth: Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.

Date of Death: August 14, 2024

Place of Death: Indian Wells, California, U.S.

Ethnicity: Welsh, English, as well as distant Scottish and Scots-Irish/Northern Irish

Gena Rowlands was an American actress. Her roles included the films Lonely Are the Brave, Tony Rome, Faces (1968), Machine Gun McCain, Minnie and Moskowitz, A Woman Under the Influence, Two-Minute Warning, Opening Night (1977), The Brink’s Job, Gloria (1980), Tempest (1982), Light of Day, Another Woman, Once Around, Night on Earth, The Neon Bible, Something to Talk About, Unhook the Stars, She’s So Lovely, Paulie, Hope Floats, The Mighty, Playing by Heart, Taking Lives, The Notebook, The Skeleton Key, Paris, je t’aime; Persepolis, and Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks; as well as television and stage performances.

She was the daughter of Lady Rowlands (born Mary Allen Neal), an actress, and Edwin Myrwyn Rowlands, a banker and state legislator, who was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly and the Wisconsin State Senate; and was Chairman of Wisconsin Progressive Party. Her father was of Welsh descent. Her mother had English ancestry. Her family moved to Washington, D.C., in 1939, and to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1942, then to Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Gena was married to businessperson Robert Forrest, until her death. She had three children with her late husband, director and actor John Cassavetes, to whom she was married until his death; Nick Cassavetes, Alexandra Cassavetes, and Zoe Cassavetes, all of whom have been involved in filmmaking, including acting, directing, and writing. Her husband John directed her films A Woman Under the Influence and Gloria, among others, and her son Nick also directed her in several films, including She’s So Lovely and The Notebook.

Gena’s paternal grandfather was David Morris Rowlands (the son of Morris J. Rowlands and Catherine Owens). David was born in Wisconsin, to Welsh parents. Gena’s great-grandfather Morris was the son of John R. Rowlands and Jane Closs.

Gena’s paternal grandmother was Emma Davies (the daughter of Edwin Davies and Jane Ann Hughes). Emma was born in Wisconsin, to a Welsh-born father and a mother who was born in New York, to Welsh parents. Edwin was born in Monmouthshire, the son of Thomas Davies and Margaret Williams. Jane was the daughter of Richard Hughes and Ann Williams.

Gena’s maternal grandfather was William Joel Neal (the son of Younger Neal and Martha Thomas Dyer). William was born in Arkansas. Younger was the son of William Jay Neal and Mouncy Nancy Robinson. Martha was the daughter of Joel Westley Dyer and Sarah Ann Talkington.

Gena’s maternal grandmother was Tennessee Virginia Hickey (the daughter of Charles Midland Hickey and Saphronia/Sophronia C. “Froney” Wright). Tennessee was born in Arkansas. Charles was the son of John Richard Hickey and Margaret Macom.

Sources: Genealogy of Gena Rowlands – https://www.geni.com

Marriage record of Gena’s parents – http://www.familysearch.org

Gena’s father on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Gena’s maternal grandfather, William Joel Neal, on the 1880 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Gena’s maternal grandmother, Tennessee Virginia Hickey, on the 1880 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org