Gena Rowlands, known for her emotionally raw portrayals of damaged women, dead at 94

Gena Rowlands, hailed as one of the greatest actors to ever practice the craft, has died at age 94. A guiding light in independent cinema, starring in groundbreaking movies by her director husband, John Cassavetes, from the late '50s through the 1980s, she later charmed younger audiences in her son's tear-jerker The Notebook.

Gena Rowlands, known for her emotionally raw portrayals of damaged women, dead at 94
Gena Rowlands is seen posing for a photo in a file photo taken in West Hollywood, Calif., in December 2014.

Gena Rowlands, hailed as one of the greatest actors to ever practice the craft, has died at age 94. A guiding light in independent cinema, starring in groundbreaking movies by her director husband, John Cassavetes, from the late '50s through the 1980s, she later charmed younger audiences in her son's tear-jerker The Notebook.