April 9th 1954

John Cassevetes & Gena Rowlands

On this day in wedding history, two struggling, young actors, John Cassavetes and Gena Rowlands, were married. They remained together until Cassavetes death in 1989 at the age of 59.

During their 35 years together, this remarkable Hollywood couple raised three children while establishing impressive careers — Cassavetes as a writer/director and Rowlands as an award-winning actress of stage, TV and film.

Cassavetes and Rowlands, may have, at first, seemed an unlikely couple. Cassavetes was the son of Greek immigrants and didn’t speak English until age 7 when his family returned to New York City from Greece. Rowlands, on the other hand, was a beautiful, popular Midwest girl whose father was a US diplomat and mother was a painter and housewife.

Though they had decidedly different backgrounds, Cassavetes and Rowland had one thing in common — a passion for the theatre. During their marriage, they not only achieved individual success but they collaborated on ten films, two of which resulted in Academy Award nominated performances.

Since his death, Cassavetes’ legacy continues through Rowlands and their children, Nick, Alexandra, and Zoe, who have all followed in their talented parents’ footsteps.