Gena Rowlands' 3 Kids: All About Alexandra, Zoe and Nick Cassavetes

Gena Rowlands had an illustrious acting career, but one of her greatest roles in life was that of a mother.

The late actress, who died aged 94 on August 14, was the mother of three children, Nick, Alexandra and Zoe Cassavetes, whom she shared with her late husband, director John Cassavetes.

The couple were married for more than 30 years before his death in February 1989. Rowlands later found love again as she married retired businessman Robert Forrest in 2012, who became stepfather to Rowlands’ children.

Nick, Alexandra and Zoe followed in their famous parents’ footsteps in the entertainment industry. In addition to playing the role of mother, they also forged careers as directors. Namely, Nick directed his mom in the Nicholas Sparks film adaptation Notebook 2004, where she played the older Allie.

Here’s everything there is to know about the Rowlands children.

The life and career of Gene Rowlands in pictures

Nick Cassavetes

Nick Cassavetes at the TCL Chinese Theatre.

Michael Tran/FilmMagic

Nick Cassavetes is Rowlands and Cassavetes’ eldest child and only son, who was born on May 21, 1959. Growing up in the limelight, Nick spent much of his childhood on sets and appeared in his father’s films Husbands in 1970.

As he got older, he decided to try a different career path and attended Syracuse University on a basketball scholarship. However, after a career-ending injury, he enrolled at his parents’ alma mater, the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York.

While Nick has starred in several films over the years including Face/Off, Wraith and Lifehe is well known for his directorial career, especially his leading one My sister’s keeper and Notebook. On the latter project, he was able to work with his mom, who played the older Allie.

She was later joined by Rowland’s children Notebook premiered at the Deauville American Film Festival in September 2004.

Nick Cassavetes and Gena Rowlands at the 2015 Governors Awards.

Michael Buckner/Variety/Penske Media via Getty

Over the years, Nick has attended many events with his mother, including the 1987 Emmy Awards and the Los Angeles premiere of the film. Notebook 2004. He also presented her with an honorary Academy Award in November 2015 during the 7th annual Governor’s Awards ceremony, which marked one of Rowlands’ last public appearances before retiring from acting.

In honor of the film’s 20th anniversary in June 2024, Nick considered working with her on an adaptation of the Nicholas Sparks hit. “I talked my mom into playing the older Allie and we spent a lot of time talking about Alzheimer’s and wanting to be authentic with it, and now, for the last five years, she’s been suffering from Alzheimer’s,” Cassavetes told Entertainment Weekly about his mother, who played an older version of Rachael McAdams’ character in the film. “She’s completely demented. And it’s so crazy – we lived it, she faked it, and now it’s all on us.”

As for his personal life, Nick was previously married to Isabelle Rafalovich, with whom he has two daughters, Virginia and Sasha. He later married Heather Wahlquist, with whom he shares a daughter, Barbarella.

Gene Rowlands’ son Nick Cassavetes sweet tribute to fans after her death at 94: ‘Rest Gina’

Alexandra Cassavetes

Alexandra Cassavetes at the American Film Festival in Deauville.

David LEFRANC/Gamma-Rapho via Getty

Alexandra “Xan” Cassavetes is Rowlands and Cassavetes’ second child and eldest daughter, born on September 21, 1965. Like her older brother, she immersed herself in the film industry at a young age, rarely appearing in her father’s films, Husbands and A woman under the influencethe latter of which also starred her mom.

In recent years, she has focused more on writing and directing, including a 2004 documentary Z Channel: Magnificent Obsessionwhich received critical acclaim at the Cannes Film Festival. In 2008, she wrote a romantic comedy New York, I love you and in 2012 she made her debut as a feature film director Kiss of the damned.

Gena Rowlands with her family.

Toni Anne Barson/WireImage

In October 2013, Alexandra supported her brother and mother at the premiere of the film Notebook at the American Film Festival in Deauville. The family walked the red carpet together with Rowlands’ husband Robert Forrest. In December 2014, Alexandra attended her mother’s hand/footprint ceremony at the TCL Chinese Theater along with her siblings.

As for her personal life, she was previously married to film producer Rick Ross from 1995 to 2005. During their relationship, they had two children, Veronica and John.

Zoe Cassavetes

Zoe Cassavetes at the Deauville American Film Festival.

CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty

Zoe Cassavetes is the youngest child of Rowlands and Cassavetes, who was born on June 29, 1970. Her career in the industry began at the age of one when she had an uncredited role in her father’s film as a baby. Minnie and Moskowitz 1971. She had her first official acting role in 1991 for the film Ted & Venus.

In addition to various acting roles, Zoe notably created and hosted the Comedy Central television series Hi Octane alongside her friend Sofia Coppola, which featured Keanu Reeves, the Beastie Boys and Martin Scorsese, among others.

She made her directorial debut in 2000 with a short film The theory that men drive women crazy but he is well known for directing and writing the 2007 romantic comedy film Broken Englishwhich starred Parker Posey and her mother.

Nick Cassavetes, Gena Rowlands and Zoe Cassavetes at the 1992 Cannes Film Festival.

ARNAL/GARCIA/PICOT/Gamma-Rapho Pool via Getty

Like her siblings, she has made various public appearances with her mother over the years, including the ACE Awards in 1991 and the Cannes Film Festival in 1992. In September 2007, they walked the red carpet together at the Deauville American Film Festival when they debuted their movie movie Broken English.

On the personal front, she is married to Sebastien Chenut, a French artist who is one half of the DJ duo Scratch Massive.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education