Goodbye to Gena Rowlands, Star of The Notebook

In addition to that sentimental classic, she appeared in groundbreaking films directed by husband John Cassavetes

- TOM GLIATTO

It's no exaggeration to say that Gena Rowlands was revered as an actress. With a lion's mane of blonde hair and the fierceness of a tiger, she was vital and riveting. But you could also say she was lucky in her directors, particularly two men she loved dearly. Husband John Cassavetes, a champion of independent film in the '70s and '80s, directed her in several critically esteemed classics, including the searing domestic drama A Woman Under the Influence (1974). And son Nick Cassavetes directed her in 2004's gorgeous romantic weepy The Notebook, the film that has meant the most to audiences. "I loved having him at the helm," she said in 2004. "The first day of shooting, Nick said, 'Okay, Mom. Action!""