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

Mar. 15, 2025

Gena Rowlands with her family.Photo:Stephane Cardinale/Corbis via Getty

Stephane Cardinale/Corbis via Getty

Gena Rowlandshad an illustrious acting career, but one of her biggest roles in life was being a mom.

The late actress, whodied at age 94 on Aug. 14, was the mother of three children, Nick, Alexandra and Zoe Cassavetes, whom she shared withher late husband, filmmaker John Cassavetes.

The couple was married for over 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’ kids.

Nick, Alexandra and Zoe have all followed in their famous parents' footsteps in the entertainment industry. In addition to acting like their mother, they have also forged careers as directors. Notably,Nick directed his momin the Nicholas Sparks adaptation ofThe Notebookin 2004, where she played an older Allie.

Here’s everything to know about Rowlands’ children.

Nick Cassavetes

Nick Cassavetes at the TCL Chinese Theatre.Michael Tran/FilmMagic

Michael Tran/FilmMagic

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

As he grew 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 in his parents' alma mater, the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York.

While Nick has acted in several films through the years, includingFace/Off,The WraithandLife, he is well known for his directing career, notably helmingMy Sister’s KeeperandThe Notebook. On the latter project, he was able to work with his mom, who played older Allie.

Rowlands' children later joined her forThe Notebookpremiere at the Deauville American Film Festival in September 2004.

Nick Cassavetes and Gena Rowlands at 2015 Governors Awards.Michael Buckner/Variety/Penske Media via Getty

Michael Buckner/Variety/Penske Media via Getty

Over the years, Nick has attended many events alongside his mother, including the 1987 Emmy Awards and the Los Angeles premiere ofThe Notebookin 2004. He also awarded her an Honorary Academy Award in November 2015 during the 7th annual Governors Awards ceremony, which marked one of Rowlands’ final public appearances before retiring from acting.

In honor of the film’s 20th anniversary in June 2024, Nick reflected on working with her for the hit Nicholas Sparks adaptation. “I got my mom to play 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 hadAlzheimer’s,” Cassavetes toldEntertainment Weeklyabout his mother who played the older version ofRachael McAdams’ character in the film. “She’s in full dementia. And it’s so crazy — we lived it, she acted it, and now it’s 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 named Barbarella.

Alexandra Cassavetes

Alexandra Cassavetes at Deauville American Film Festival.David LEFRANC/Gamma-Rapho via Getty

David LEFRANC/Gamma-Rapho via Getty

Alexandra “Xan” Cassavetes is Rowlands and Cassavetes’ second child and oldest daughter, born on Sept. 21, 1965. Like her older brother, she became immersed in the film industry at a young age, making small appearances in her dad’s films,HusbandsandA Woman Under the Influence, the latter of which also starred her mom.

In recent years, she has put more of her focus on writing and directing, including the 2004 documentaryZ Channel: A Magnificent Obsession, which gained critical acclaim at the Cannes Film Festival. In 2008, she was a writer for the romantic comedyNew York, I Love Youand in 2012, she made her feature film directorial debut withKiss of the Damned.

Gena Rowlands with her family.Toni Anne Barson/WireImage

Toni Anne Barson/WireImage

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

As for her personal life, she was formerly married to film producer Rick Ross from 1995 to 2005. During the course of their relationship, they welcomed two children, Veronica and John.

Zoe Cassavetes

Zoe Cassavetes at Deauville American Film Festival.CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty

CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty

Aside from various acting roles, Zoe notably created and hosted the Comedy Central television seriesHi Octanealongside her friend Sofia Coppola, which featured appearances from Keanu Reeves, Beastie Boys and Martin Scorsese, among others.

She made her directorial debut in 2000 with the short filmMen Make Women Crazy Theorybut is well known for directing and writing the 2007 romance-comedy filmBroken English, which starred Parker Posey and her mother.

Nick Cassavetes, Gena Rowlands and Zoe Cassavetes at 1992 Cannes Film Festival.Pool ARNAL/GARCIA/PICOT/Gamma-Rapho via Getty

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

Like her siblings, she made various public appearances with her mother through 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 as they debuted their movieBroken English.

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

source: people.com