'The Notebook' Actress Gena Rowlands' Son Gives Heartbreaking Update About Her Health

Gena Rowlands, the actress behind the emotional older Allie in The Notebook, has been diagnosed with the same disease she portrayed on screen.

Her son, director and actor Nick Cassavetes—who directed the adaption of the classic Nicholas Sparks novel—revealed that his mother has been suffering from Alzheimer's for the last five years. He says the actress, 93, is now "in full dementia."

"And it's so crazy," he added, speaking with Entertainment Weekly. "We lived it, she acted it, and now it's on us."

Cassavetes also shared that when he cast his mother in the role, the two "spent a lot of time talking about Alzheimer's and wanting to be authentic with it." Rowlands' own mother, actress Lady Rowlands, also suffered from the form of dementia, which is the most common type of progressive neurodegenerative disease, according to the CDC.

The publication referenced a 2004 interview with O magazine, where Rowlands opened up about how this role was, understandably, "particularly hard" after watching its impact on her mom. "...if Nick hadn't directed the film, I don't think I would have gone for it—it's just too hard," she said at the time. "It was a tough but wonderful movie."

The director looked back on the beloved romantic drama, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary today, June 25, 2024. "It's always a shock to hear that as much time has gone by as it has, but it makes sense, he told EW. "I'm just happy that it exists. It seems to have worked and I'm very proud of it."

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