The Notebook star Gena Rowlands has died aged 94

She had been battling Alzheimer's in recent years

The acclaimed actress passed away at her home in Indian Wells, California, on Wednesday afternoon, TMZ reports.

A cause of death has not yet been revealed at this time, but the news comes just weeks after it was announced that Rowlands had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

A two-time Golden Globe winner, Rowlands was best known for her role in the romantic drama The Notebook.

In the film, which was directed by her son Nick Cassavetes, she played the older version of actress Rachel McAdams' Allie.

Cassavettes told Entertainment Weekly in June that his mum had been battling Alzheimer's for the last five years, and was now "in full dementia."

He told the outlet earlier this year: "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 had Alzheimer's.

"She's in full dementia. And it's so crazy - we lived it, she acted it, and now it's on us."

Rowlands retired from Hollywood in 2015 and earned four Emmy Awards, two Golden Globes, and two Oscar nominations during her career.

She is survived by her husband Robert Forrest, who she married in 2012.

She is also survived by her three children Nick, Alexandr, and Zoe Cassavetes.

READ MORE: