1. Theatre, Film, and Television Biographies
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Gena Rowlands Biography (1930?-)

Full name, Virginia Cathryn Rowlands; born June 19, 1930 (sources also say 1934 and 1936), in Cambria, WI (one source says Madison, WI); daughter of EdwinMerwin (a banker and state senator) and Mary Allen (a painter; maiden name,Neal) Rowlands; married John Cassavetes (actor, director, producer, and writer), March 19, 1958 (one source says 1954; died February 3, 1989); children: Nicholas (an actor and director), Alexandra, Zoe. Addresses: Agent: International Creative Management, 8942 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90211.; Contact: 7917 Woodrow Wilson Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90046; 11365 Ventura Blvd., #100, Studio City, CA 91604.

Gender

Female

Occupation

Actress

Birth Details

June 19, 1930?

Cambria, Wisconsin

Famous Works

• CREDITS
• Film Appearances
• (Film debut) Virginia Fry, The High Cost of Loving, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1958
• Jerri Bondi, Lonely Are the Brave (also known as Last Hero), Universal, 1962
• Sophie Widdicombe, A Child Is Waiting, United Artists, 1962
• Els, The Spiral Road, Universal, 1962
• Rita Kosterman, Tony Rome, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1967
• Jeannie Rapp, Faces, Continental, 1968
• The Vatican Affair, 1968
• Rosemary Scott, Gli Intoccabili (also known as Machine Gun McCain), Columbia, 1969
• The Happy Ending, 1969
• At Any Price, 1970
• Minnie Moore, Minnie and Moskowitz, Universal, 1971
• Mabel Longhetti, A Woman under the Influence, Faces International,1974
• Janet, Two-Minute Warning, Universal, 1976
• Myrtle Gordon, Opening Night, 1977
• Mary Pino, The Brink's Job (also known as Big Stickup at Brink's), Universal, 1978
• One Summer Night, 1979
• Gloria Swenson (title role), Gloria, Columbia, 1980
• Antonia Dimitrious, Tempest, Columbia, 1982
• Herself, "I'm Almost Not Crazy ... " John Cassavetes: The Man and HisWork, 1983
• Sarah Lawson, Love Streams, Cannon, 1984
• Jeanette Rasnick, Light of Day, TriStar, 1987
• Marion Post, Another Woman, Orion, 1988
• Victoria Snelling, Night on Earth, Fine Line, 1991
• Marilyn Bella, Once Around, Universal, 1991
• Victoria Snelling, Night on Earth, Fine Line, 1991
• Mrs. Turner, Linda's mother, Ted & Venus, Double Helix Films,1991
• Georgia King, Something to Talk About (also known as Grace under Pressure), Warner Bros., 1995
• Aunt Mae, The Neon Bible (also known as La Biblia de neon),Strand Releasing, 1995
• Anything for John (also known as Cassavetes: Anything for John), 1995
• Mildred "Millie" Hawks, Unhook the Stars (also known as Decroche les etoiles), Miramax, 1996
• Miss Green, She's So Lovely (also known as Call It Love), Miramax, 1997
• Ivy, Paulie, DreamWorks, 1998
• Ramona Calvert, Hope Floats, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1998
• Susan "Gram" Pinneman, The Mighty, Miramax, 1998
• Hannah, Playing by Heart, Miramax, 1998
• Laura Ponti, The Weekend, Strand Releasing, 2000
• Herself, Ljuset haaller mig saellskap (documentary; also known asLight Keeps Me Company), 2000
• Herself, A Constant Forge: The Life and Art of John Cassavetes, 2001
• Television Appearances
• Series
• Powell, Top Secret U.S.A. (also known as Top Secret), syndicated, 1954
• Teddy Carella, 87th Precinct, NBC, 1961-1962
• Adrienne Van Leyden, Peyton Place, ABC, 1967-1968
• Movies
• Linda Ray Guettner, A Question of Love (also known as A PurelyLegal Matter), ABC, 1978
• Abigail Mason, Strangers: The Story of a Mother and Daughter (alsoknown as Strangers), CBS, 1979
• Victoria Alden, Thursday's Child, CBS, 1983
• Katherine Pierson, An Early Frost, NBC, 1985
• Title role, The Betty Ford Story, ABC, 1987
• Bess Guthrie, Montana, TNT, 1990
• Pat Foster, Face of a Stranger (also known as My Shadow), CBS, 1991
• Honora, Crazy in Love, TNT, 1992
• Dr. Peggy Sutherland, Silent Cries (also known as Guests of theEmperor), NBC, 1993
• Francie Pomerantz, Parallel Lives, 1994
• Mrs. Harriet Cahill, Best Friends for Life, CBS, 1998
• Grace Stiles, Grace and Glorie, CBS, 1998
• Georgia Porter, The Color of Love: Jacey's Story, 2000
• Black Iris, 2001
• Specials
• Herself, AFI's 100 Years ... 100 Stars, CBS, 1999
• Herself, Intimate Portrait: Brooke Shields, Lifetime, 2001
• Episodic
• "The Great Gatsby," Robert Montgomery Presents, NBC, 1955
• "Do It Yourself," Goodyear Television Playhouse, NBC, 1955
• "Time for Love," Armstrong Circle Theatre, NBC, 1955
• "A Chance at Love," Studio One, CBS, 1955
• "The Pirate's House," Appointment with Adventure, CBS, 1955
• "Ashton Buys a Horse," United States Steel Hour, CBS, 1955
• "The Expendable House," Goodyear Television Playhouse, NBC, 1955
• "The Ways of Courage," Pond's Theatre, ABC, 1955
• "The Girl with the Flaxen Hair," General Electric Theatre, CBS, 1958
• "The Run to Tumavaca," Laramie, NBC, 1959
• "Fly, Baby, Fly," Johnny Staccato (also known as Staccato),NBC, 1959
• "The Altar," Markham, CBS, 1959
• "Guns for Empire," Riverboat, NBC, 1959
• "The Death-Divers," Adventures in Paradise, ABC, 1960
• Lucille Jones, "The Doubtful Doctor," Alfred Hitchcock Presents, NBC, 1960
• "Double Trouble," The Tab Hunter Show, NBC, 1960
• "Island Witness," The Islanders, ABC, 1961
• Marian Praisewater, "The Poppy Vendor," Target: The Corrupters, ABC, 1961
• "A Personal Matter," The Lloyd Bridges Show, CBS, 1963
• "Project X," The Dick Powell Show, NBC, 1963
• Louise Henderson, "The Lonely Hours," The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, CBS, 1963
• "Flight 307," 77 Sunset Strip, ABC, 1963
• "No Tears for Savannah," The Virginian, NBC, 1963
• Helen Martin, "Ride the Nightmare," The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, CBS, 1963
• "One Step Down," Kraft Suspense Theatre, NBC, 1963
• "Heart of Marble, Body of Stone," Breaking Point, ABC, 1963
• "It's Mental Work," Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre, NBC, 1963
• "Who Killed Victor Barrows?" Burke's Law, ABC, 1963
• "She Walks in Beauty," Bonanza, NBC, 1963
• Diana Justin, "Murder Case," The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, CBS, 1964
• "To Walk in Grace," Dr. Kildare, NBC, 1964
• Lois Baxter, "Won't It Ever Be Morning?" Kraft Suspense Theatre, NBC, 1964
• "Who Killed Annie Foran?" Burke's Law, ABC, 1964
• "Who Killed What's His Name?" Burke's Law, ABC, 1964
• "The Rediscovery of Charlotte Hyde," Run for Your Life, NBC, 1965
• "From This Day Forward," The Long, Hot Summer, ABC, 1966
• "Beyond the Hill," The Road West, NBC, 1966
• "The Fountain of Youth Affair," The Girl from U.N.C.L.E., NBC, 1967
• Duchess, "The Frame-Up," Garrison's Gorillas, ABC, 1968
• "The Man in Hiding," Medical Center, CBS, 1971
• "The Concrete Captain," Ghost Story, NBC, 1971
• Karen Coberly, "Child of Violence," Medical Center, CBS, 1973
• "The 266 Days," Marcus Welby, M.D., ABC, 1974
• Elizabeth Van Wick, "Playback," Columbo, NBC, 1975
• The Wicked Queen, "Rapunzel," Faerie Tale Theatre, Showtime, 1983
• Actors on Acting, PBS, 1984
• Champlin on Film, Bravo, 1989
• Also appeared in Philco Playhouse, NBC; Danger, CBS; Suspense, CBS; Martin Kane, NBC.
• Stage Appearances
• Mistress of ceremonies, All about Love, Versailles Night Club Theatre, New York City, 1951
• (Broadway debut; first as understudy, then assumed role) The Girl, TheSeven Year Itch, New York City, 1952
• Dangerous Corners, off-Broadway production, 1953
• Betty Price, The Middle of the Night, American National Theatre and Academy (ANTA), New York City, 1956-1957
• Also performed in stock companies, 1951-53, and at the Provincetown Playhouse.
• Major Tours
• The Girl, The Seven Year Itch, U.S. cities, 1953
• Also toured in Time Out for Ginger, U.S. cities.