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The fates of child actors always seem so predetermined. A few get out and make good on their ambitions, but others get wrapped up in drugs or fade into oblivion or become incessant tabloid fodder. But Jake Lloyd is different. Tasked with carrying the future of Star Wars on his tiny shoulders, he was absolutely shredded by moviegoers and the media at just 10 years old. Facing bullying at school, hate from Star Wars fans, ridicule from reporters, and battles with his mental health, Jake Lloyd has seen a world like perhaps no other child actor before or since. More than 25 years removed from The Phantom Menace, he’s eyeing a recovery that matches it. Let’s find out: What Happened to… Jake Lloyd?

Born in Fort Collins, Colorado, Jake Lloyd and his family soon found their way to Hollywood. After a supporting role alongside Gena Rowlands and Marisa Tomei in...

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Gena Rowlands, the celebrated actress and muse of John Cassavetes, whose raw talent in films like Faces, A Woman Under the Influence, Opening Night, and Gloria secured her place among the greats of cinema, passed away on Wednesday at 94.

The actress died at her home in Indian Wells, California, surrounded by her family.

Rowlands was a groundbreaking actress renowned for her intense and emotionally charged performances.

Her portrayal of complex, often troubled women in films like A Woman Under the Influence and Opening Night earned her critical acclaim and multiple award nominations.

Rowlands’ fearless approach to acting broke new ground in portraying raw, unfiltered human emotions on screen.

Beyond her work with Cassavetes, she also enjoyed a successful career in television and other films, leaving a lasting legacy that includes her children.

Gena Rowlands’s children are all Hollywood stars

Nick Cassavetes is perhaps the most well-known among her children.

Gena Rowlands, known for her fearless film performances and collaboration with husband John Cassavetes, died on October 26th at her home in Indian Wells, California. She was 94 years old. Rowlands’ son Nick Cassavetes, a film director, confirmed her passing. Earlier this year, Rowlands had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

Over a career that spanned six decades, Rowlands established herself as a versatile actress capable of complex, challenging roles. Her breakout role came in 1974 with A Woman Under the Influence, directed by John Cassavetes. Rowlands played a housewife struggling with mental illness, earning her first Oscar nomination for the raw, emotionally charged performance. Film critic Janet Maslin praised Rowlands’ “physical and emotional elasticity” in navigating her character’s shifting moods.

Rowlands went on to collaborate with Cassavetes in ten films, helping define independent cinema in the 1970s and 1980s. They included Faces (1968) and Opening Night (1977). Her role in Gloria (1980) earned a second Oscar nomination.

Gena Rowlands, who was featured in her son's movie The Notebook along with many other movies over the course of her career, has died. She was 94 years old.

Per Variety, Rowlands died on Wednesday at her home in Indian, California. Her passing was confirmed by the agent's office of her son, filmmaker Nick Cassavetes, who directed Rowlands in The Notebook. The news follows Cassavetes announcing that his mother had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's in June.

In The Notebook, which featured one of her most famous roles as the older version of Rachel McAdams' lead character, Rowlands played a woman suffering from dementia. The hit movie, released in 2004, still stands as one of the most popular romance movies ever made. For her part in the movie, Rowlands won a Best Supporting Actress award at the Golden Satellite Awards.

In 1974, Rowlands was featured as the star of A Woman Under the Influence,...

Gena Rowlands, the wife and muse of John Cassavetes whose unvarnished abilities found in such films as Faces, A Woman Under the Influence, Opening Night and Gloria put her in the pantheon of acting legends, died Wednesday. She was 94.

Rowlands died surrounded by family members at her home in Indian Wells, California, according to TMZ. A spokesperson for WME, where her son, writer-director Nick Cassavetes, has representation, confirmed her death. She had battled Alzheimer’s since 2019.

Rowlands received Oscar nominations for her performances in A Woman Under the Influence (1974), where she played an isolated, emotionally vulnerable housewife who lapses into madness, and Gloria (1980), where she sparkled as a pissed-off child protector who rails against the Mob.

She lost out to Ellen Burstyn of Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore and Sissy Spacek of Coal Miner’s Daughter in those Academy Award races. Her greatness wasn’t formally acknowledged by the Academy...

Gena Rowlands, whose seminal and fearless performance in “A Woman Under the Influence” inspired a generation and who starred in many other John Cassavetes features as well as the romance “The Notebook,” died Wednesday at her home in Indian Wells, Calif. She was 94.

Her death was confirmed by the office of her son’s agent. In June, Nick Cassavetes, who directed his mother in “The Notebook,” shared that the three-time Emmy winner and two-time Oscar nominee had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

Rowlands’ role as Mabel Longhetti in the 1974 drama “A Woman Under the Influence,” written for her and directed by husband John Cassavetes, landed the actor the first of two Academy Award nominations. The other nom was for “Gloria” (1980), also directed by her husband. In November 2015, she was awarded an honorary Academy Award at the annual Governors Awards in recognition of her storied career.

“Working this long? I didn...

Gena Rowlands is the Ocar-nominated thespian who made a name for herself thanks to a series of manic, high-wire performances in several films, many of them directed by her late husband, indie maverick John Cassavetes. But how many of her titles remain classics? Let’s take a look back at 12 of Rowlands’s greatest films, ranked worst to best.

After making a name for herself with bit parts onstage and onscreen, Rowlands flourished when she became the muse of Cassavetes, who she married in 1954. A fellow performer, Cassavetes would raise money from appearing in movies like “The Dirty Dozen” (1967) and “Rosemary’s Baby” (1968), immediately funneling the funds into his own projects. His wife was usually front and center, as were their family members and friends.

Rowlands’s operatic performances were a perfect match for her husband’s improvisational, energetic films, including “Faces” (1968), “Minnie and Moskowitz” (1971), “Opening Night” (1977) and “Love Streams” (1984). Her...

Cinematographer Phedon Papamichael with Anne-Katrin Titze on James Mangold’s Indiana Jones 5 production designer Adam Stockhausen: “It’s a very controlled design environment, which is also fantastic because if it’s a great designer you feel like it’s real.”

From London, in late January, Phedon Papamichael took time off from his busy schedule on Indiana Jones 5 (directed by James Mangold) to discuss with me on Zoom his work with Levan Koguashvili on ]Brighton 4th (multiple winner in the 20th anniversary edition of the Tribeca Film Festival), Alexander Payne, Aaron Sorkin and Shane Valentino (The Trial Of The Chicago 7), production designer Adam Stockhausen, John Cassavetes’s Love Streams and Nick Cassavetes’s Unhook The Stars with his father in New York, and the upcoming Light Falls, starring Makis Papadimitriou that he directed.

Phedon Papamichael on Brighton 4th director Levan Koguashvili and the Georgian film industry: “We...

After all the talk of a potential Lady Gaga-Kristen Stewart Oscar night showdown, could it be much ado about nothing?

Both actresses have a very vocal and passionate fanbase. Leading up to the Screen Actors Guild awards nominations, many predicted that the two would ultimately be the final two standing in the race for the Oscar statuette. However, that was until Stewart was snubbed for her turn as Princess Diana in Pablo Larraín’s historical fable. Many Gaga stans were elated by Stewart’s miss, seeing it as a clear opening for the performer to carry her “House of Gucci” momentum from a win at the New York Film Critics Circle and to a potential SAG Award, and then eventually the Academy Award.

While both actresses received nominations at the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards, including longlist mentions for the BAFTA Awards, whether pundits and fans want to believe it or not,...

Welcome to The B-Side, from The Film Stage. Here we talk about movie stars! Not the movies that made them famous or kept them famous, but the ones that they made in between.

Today, Conor and I discuss a fan favorite: Marisa Tomei! We’re joined by the lovely Jen Johans, host of the Watch With Jen podcast! The Tomei B-Sides we cover include: Oscar, Unhook The Stars, The Watcher, and Happy Accidents. Tomei burst onto the scene in the ‘80s on television, earning plum roles in big studio films soon enough.

We dig into what makes Tomei so very watchable and how that approachability has led to an incredibly diverse career. At a young age, Tomei won the Oscar for My Cousin Vinny, a victory so surprising it spurred silly rumors that persisted for some time. What followed was a slew of fascinating lead roles in the ‘90s and...

Marisa Tomei already had many television, theatre, and small film roles under her belt when she rose to international fame with her role in My Cousin Vinny in 1992. She went on to win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Mona Lisa Vito in the film. Since then, Tomei has acquired two more nominations in the same category, for her role in Darren Aronofsky's 2008 sport-drama The Wrestler, and the 2001 drama, In The Bedroom.

Related: Every Film To Win Best Supporting Actress from 2010 To 2020, Ranked By IMDb

Throughout her career, so far, Tomei has brought to a life a host of different characters, ranging from film star Mabel Normand in Chaplin to young mother Monica in Unhook The Stars. Most recently, Tomei has taken on the role of Aunt May, the aunt of Tom Holland's Spider-Man in the McU. As well as her many critically acclaimed performances,...

Gena Rowlands celebrates her 89th birthday on June 19, 2019. The Oscar-nominated thespian made a name for herself thanks to a series of manic, high-wire performances in several films, many of them directed by her late husband, indie maverick John Cassavetes. But how many of her titles remain classics? In honor of her birthday, let’s take a look back at 12 of Rowlands’s greatest films, ranked worst to best.

After making a name for herself with bit parts onstage and onscreen, Rowlands flourished when she became the muse of Cassavetes, who she married in 1954. A fellow performer, Cassavetes would raise money from appearing in movies like “The Dirty Dozen” (1967) and “Rosemary’s Baby” (1968), immediately funneling the funds into his own projects. His wife was usually front and center, as were their family members and friends.

SEEHonorary Oscars: Full gallery of acting recipients includes Charlie Chaplin, Angela Lansbury, Gena Rowlands

Rowlands’s...

Filmmakers, Actors and Actresses and Hollywood’s A-listers turned out for the first Oscar awards show of the season – the 7th annual Governors Awards.

The star-studded evening was held in Hollywood, CA, on Saturday. (Nov 14, 2015)

The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award went to Debbie Reynolds, and Honorary Awards were presented to Spike Lee and Gena Rowlands at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland Center.

The Honorary Award, an Oscar statuette, is given “to honor extraordinary distinction in lifetime achievement, exceptional contributions to the state of motion picture arts and sciences, or for outstanding service to the Academy.” The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, also an Oscar statuette, is given “to an individual in the motion picture arts and sciences whose humanitarian efforts have brought credit to the industry.”

Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs opened the 2015 Governors Awards with a tribute to the Paris tragedy and spoke about The Academy’s response...

©A.M.P.A.S.

The Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences voted Tuesday night (August 25) to present Honorary Awards to Spike Lee and Gena Rowlands, and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award to Debbie Reynolds.

All three awards will be presented at the Academy’s 7th Annual Governors Awards on Saturday, November 14, at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland Center.

“The Board is proud to recognize our honorees’ remarkable contributions at this year’s Governors Awards,” said Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs. “We’ll be celebrating their achievements with the knowledge that the work they have accomplished – with passion, dedication and a desire to make a positive difference – will also enrich future generations.”

Lee, a champion of independent film and an inspiration to young filmmakers, made an auspicious debut with his Nyu thesis film, “Joe’s Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads,” which won...

The Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences voted Tuesday night (August 25) to present Honorary Awards to Spike Lee and Gena Rowlands, and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award to Debbie Reynolds. All three awards will be presented at the Academy’s 7th Annual Governors Awards on Saturday, November 14, at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland Center®. “The Board is proud to recognize our honorees’ remarkable contributions at this year’s Governors Awards,” said Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs. “We’ll be celebrating their achievements with the knowledge that the work they have accomplished – with passion, dedication and a desire to make a positive difference – will also enrich future generations.” Lee, a champion of independent film and an inspiration to young filmmakers, made an auspicious debut with his Nyu thesis film, “Joe’s Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads,” which won a Student Academy Award® in...

Oscar-nominated actress Gena Rowlands will receive the La Film Critics Association’s Career Achievement kudos this winter, the org announced today. In an acclaimed career that’s spanned six decades, Rowlands nabbed Academy Award nominations for her iconic roles in two of her ten films for filmmaker/husband John Cassavetes, Gloria and A Woman Under the Influence. She won the Golden Globe for the latter and snagged three Emmy wins on the small screen.

Rowlands’ films include Faces and Minnie and Moskowitz for Cassavetes, Another Woman for Woody Allen, Lonely Are The Brave with Kirk Douglas, Night On Earth for Jim Jarmusch, Unhook the Stars, The Notebook, and Yellow for son Nick Cassavetes, and Broken English for daughter Zoe Cassavetes. Career Achievement honorees who were voted on by members of Lafca in recent years include Richard Lester, Frederick Wiseman, and Doris Day.

Alex Pettyfer and Kristen Stewart in Cali? (Photo: Alex Pettyfer tattoos in Beastly.) We all knew that Kristen Stewart will be starring as the anti-heroine in the Michael Diliberti-written, off-beat actioner Cali. Now we’ve just learned that Magic Mike‘s young stripper / dancer Alex Pettyfer will likely play Stewart’s partner in the film to be directed by Nick Cassavetes (Unhook the Stars / The Notebook / Alpha Dog). Alex Pettyfer: from stripper to snuff filmmaker According to Variety, Pettyfer, also known for Beastly and I Am Number Four, is "in final negotiations" to co-star in Cali. The film’s title, I should note, refers not [...]...

Subject: Marisa Tomei, 46-year old American Actress

Date of Assessment: March 16, 2011

Positive Buzzwords: Sensuality, pluckiness, longevity

Negative Buzzwords: The Academy, romcoms

The Case: Just last week, I discussed how Gary Oldman has suffered no adverse effects after experiencing a career of neglect at the hands of The Academy. Naturally, Gary doesn't give much of a shit whether or not he's receiving relatively worthless reinforcement from his fellow actors; and in this week's assessment, we explore the simple notion that an Oscar can actually hurt one's career prospects.

Very early on in Marisa Tomei's career (following stints on "As the World Turns" and "A Different World" as well as bit roles in a few negligible feature films), the actress received a substantial boost after winning the 1992 Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role as Mona Lisa Vito in My Cousin Vinny. Now, whether or not she deserved the award is a matter of personal opinion,...

Remember how a star is set to be re-born? A few months after hearing that the oft-used music story A Star is Born would get another retelling courtesy of Warner Bros., Deadline Hollywood Daily reports that Nick Cassavetes is in early talks to direct it, after reading a draft by Will Fetters. As Dhd points out, this comes after the director sued New Line -- sister studio to WB -- for being taken off the project Elephant Orphanage. Change of heart? An apology? Bygones be bygones?

The filmmaker has had a pretty interesting career so far, dancing back and forth between grit and romance. He started with the romances Unhook the Stars in 1996 and She's So Lovely in 1997, before penning Blow, directing John Q and The Notebook, writing and directing Alpha Dog, and last giving us My Sister's Keeper. He's currently working on a drug-centric dramatic indie called Yellow, and should these talks work out,...