Natalie Wood Biography
Natalie Wood was born Natasha Nikolaevna Zacharenko on July 20, 1938 in San Francisco, California. She was the daughter of Russian immigrants Nicholas and Maria Zacherenko, who later changed the family name to Gurdin. The family also included OlgaTatuloff, Maria's daughter from a previous marriage.
Natasha was a beautiful child, always polite and eager to please. Maria, an ambitious woman, decided to take advantage of her daughter's potential. In 1943 director Irving Pichel arrived in Santa Rosa with a film crew to shoot his new picture, Happy Land. Maria arranged for her daughter to meet and charm the director, by singing him a Russian folk song. The gambit paid of with a bit part in the movie and the potential for more work. Maria quickly packed up her family and moved them to Los Angeles.
By 1945 Pichel was casting the film Tomorrow is Forever. Orson Welles was to play a man scarred by war who adopts both a new identity and a war orphan. Pressured by her mother into auditioning for the part of the orphaned girl, Natasha nearly blew her opportunity by being unable to cry. Pichel saw something in the young girl, however, and agreed to give her a second test. The gamble paid off and Natasha, renamed Natalie Wood, gave a performance Welles would recall as “so professional it was scary.” Reviewers were also impressed and over the next decade young Natalie Wood became one of Hollywood’s busiest child actors.
In 1947 Natalie turned in one of her most famous performances as Susan Walker, the little girl who does not believe in Santa Claus, in the classic Miracle on 34th Street. A less remembered film from this period, however, would have a more lasting impact on Natalie’s life. During the making of The Green Promise, Natalie was injured while filming a special effect sequence. A bridge over a raging steam collapsed too soon, plunging her into the water and breaking her wrist. Natalie was left with a distended left wrist bone, which she always hid with a bracelet, and an existing phobia of water was exaggerated by the event.
While Natalie was often cast as part of the perfect nuclear family, at home her situation was very different. Natalie was now the breadwinner of the family. Her ambitious mother focused all her efforts on making her a star. Her father, ordinarily a quiet man, would grow resentful and drink himself into violent confrontations with his wife. Natalie's older sister escaped the turmoil when left home and eventually married. Natalie's parents had another daughter, Svetlana, who spent much of her life in the shadow of her famous sister.
Natalie’s awkward teenage years would see a decline in her film output. She played a series of precocious, even bratty comic relief characters in films like Father Was a Fullback and The Jackpot, but much of her work came from live televison during this period. She even costarred for a season in a sitcom called Pride of the Family.
In 1954 she began campaigning for a role in a film that would redefine her career, Rebel Without a Cause.
Although still playing a teenager, Natalie’s role as Judy, the troubled girl looking for love, allowed her to finally tackle adult situations as an actress. It also introduced her to two of her first adult romances, the older Nick Ray, who was directing the picture, and costar Dennis Hopper.
Although her performance in Rebel would earn Natalie her first Academy Award nomination, as a contract player for Warner Brothers she had little opportunity to shine over the next several years. Small parts in big films, like The Searchers, broke up a string of romantic leads opposite Tab Hunter in very forgettable teen pictures. Off screen, the covers of major movie magazines were romantically linking the ingenue to everyone from Raymond Burr to Elvis Presley.
In 1956 the speculation would heat up. Natalie met Robert (RJ) Wagner, a young contract player at Fox. The two began dating. He introduced her to boating, which would be a passion for them both. The young lovers were married on December 28, 1957 in Scottsdale, Arizona. The two were a favorite of fan magazines and made guest appearances on popular television shows and later even appeared together in the feature film All the Fine Young Cannibals. They were Hollywood’s hottest young couple, but it was only to last a few years.
Natalie continued to have trouble finding challenging work. Although she successfully pursued and won the lead in Marjorie Morningstar, the overall production was flawed and no other serious roles were forthcoming. Natalie ended up on suspension for turning down a part in The Devil's Disciple, which starred Laurence Olivier, Kirk Douglas and Burt Lancaster. Robert Wagner's career was taking a down turn during this same period. She and RJ were putting up a front as a successful Hollywood couple, renovating their large home into a star palace, just as the money stopped flowing in.
1961 proved to be the turning point in Natalie’s career. Elia Kazan chose her for the lead in Splendor in the Grass, a story about repressed sexuality in a small American town. Warren Beatty played Bud, the handsome son of a wealthy and ambitious business man, and Natalie played Deanie, a girl whose love for him will lead her to an emotional breakdown.
Splendor in the Grass set a number of events in motion for Natalie. She met Mart Crowley, one of her lifelong friends and business associates while making the film. She earned a second Academy Award nomination for her performance as Deanie. She was chosen to star in West Side Story, already in production, based on footage from Splendor. Sadly, her sudden success also pushed her marriage to the breaking point. She and Robert Wagner separated and later divorced. Natalie began seeing a therapist.
West Side Story was a difficult production for Natalie Wood. She had to affect a Puerto Rican accent, learn complex dance numbers and sing a nearly operatic score. Much to her disappointment, Marni Nixon, who had performed the sang for Deborah Kerr in The King and I and would again for Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady, ultimately dubbed Natalie’s voice. She also found herself in the tabloid spotlight as she began a new relationship with Splendor costar Warren Beatty.
The romance between Warren Beatty and Natalie Wood played out on magazine covers around the world. Natalie was one of Hollywood’s hottest stars. She placed her footprint’s in cement in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theater, attended the Cannes Film Festival (she charmed them with her mastery of Russian), the premier of How the West Was Won, and the Oscars (she lost to Sophia Loren), all with Warren Beatty on her arm. They were photographed everywhere they went. Fan magazines speculated on an upcoming marriage, but by the time Natalie's divorce was final in April of1963 the affair had run its course.
During the Beatty period, Natalie made Gypsy. Based on the play and inspired by the life of Gypsy Rose Lee, it is the story of a young girl pushed into show business by her ambitious mother after her more talented older sister runs away from home. The film had obvious parallels to Natalie’s own life (her mother was already grooming her younger sister, now renamed Lana Wood, for show business.) The score was less challenging than West Side Story’s and she was able to carry off her own singing.
She then scored critical success opposite Steve McQueen in Love with a Proper Stranger. The story of two people who’s relationship starts with a one night stand and continues through an attempted abortion and the discovery of real feelings for one another offered Natalie a romantic comedy with real dramatic substance. It was also highly controversial for it’s time. Natalie received her final Academy Award nomination for her performance in this film, but the Oscar would go to Patricia Neal.
Following her break up with Warren Beatty, Natalie was involved in a number of highly publicized but short lived relationships. Businessmen Arthur Lowe and Vladimir Blatnik were two who announced engagements to her, but neither made it to the altar. Frank Sinatra, David Niven Jr., and David Lange were also connected romantically to the lovely actress during the next several years. None of them proved to be what she was looking for.
Warner Brothers then put Natalie in two comedy’s opposite Tony Curtis. The first, Sex and the Single Girl, is a predictable sex comedy of the period; it ends in the inevitable wacky car chase into which comedies of the era so often degenerated. Blake Edward’s The Great Race spared audiences any build up and set the entire story against the backdrop of New York to Paris grand prix. Although Natalie looked beautiful in both films, there was no artistic material to challenge her in either.
On November 27, 1965, Natalie’s personal and professional disappointments reached their peak. She hated working on The Great Race, and her usual professionalism was lacking in her relationships with the cast and crew of that film. She had not found a fulfilling personal relationship, which was probably driven home to her by a brief visit from her former love, Warren Beatty. Whatever the reasons, Natalie Wood attempted suicide that night by taking an overdose of sleeping pills. Only the quick reaction of her personal secretary, Mart Crowley, got her medical attention in time to save her life.
Following The Great Race, Natalie focused her efforts on two dramatic roles, both opposite newcomer Robert Redford. The first was Inside Daisy Clover, the story of the rise and manipulation of a young Hollywood actress. It’s author, Gavin Lambert, would become a friend to Natalie and, much later, her biographer. The second film was This Property is Condemned, based on the Tennessee Williams short play of the same name and directed by Sydney Pollack. Both films offered Natalie fine roles, but neither lived up to it’s potential.
At the urging of former beau Arthur Lowe, Natalie next appeared in Penelope, a silly comedy about a banker’s wife who goes on a spree of bank heists. It was a critical and financial failure. Natalie would not make another film for three years.
It was around this time that Natalie Wood began a period of self-discovery. She attended classes at UCLA, read, traveled, and collected art. Her collection of pre-Columbian artifacts was written up at UCLA. Her therapy continued. Most importantly, at a party at the home of Rupert Allen, she met a British talent agent Richard Gregson. The two began seeing one another, and on May 30,,1969, they married in a Russian Orthodox ceremony. Robert Redford, who was starring in Gregson's production of Downhill Racer, and Gregson's children from his first marriage made up the wedding party.
The 1960’s were the pinnacle of Natalie Wood’s career and they ended on a high note. Paul Mazursky cast Natalie as the progressive Carol in Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice. The film was a satire on the changing social mores of the day. Natalie agreed to appear in the film on a percentage deal. The film was a huge success and it made her a modest fortune.
With a new decade Natalie took on a new role, that of mother to Natasha Gregson, born September 29, 1970. Domestic happiness was not on the horizon, however. In August of the following year Natalie accused Richard Gregson of infidelity and divorced him. The breakup shocked Hollywood, but the follow-up made bigger headlines, when Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner appeared together at the Academy awards.
Natalie and RJ had kept in touch through the years. Robert Wagner had married and had a daughter, Kate, but was divorced at this time. His career had bounced back when he moved to television. The two met during Natalie’s pregnancy and had realized their was still a spark between them. After the separation from Gregson, Wagner began calling on Natalie. They spent the holidays together. They remarried on July 16, 1972 on a boat off the coast of Malibu, California.
The Wagners welcomed another daughter, Courtney Brooke Wagner, into the world on March 9, 1974. RJ’s daughter Kate was also frequently with them. Natalie and RJ were careful to balance their work schedules around the family. Since RJ was working a full schedule in series television, Natalie’s output dropped off considerably.
Her best work of the 1970’s was on television. She appeared opposite RJ in The Affair, an Aaron Spelling production. (This was a lucrative project for the Wagners, who ended up owning part of Spelling’s next series, Charlie’s Angels, as part of the deal.) She received Emmy nominations for her TV remakes of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (again with RJ) and From Here to Eternity. The later also earned her a Golden Globe Award. She also starred in The Memory of Eva Ryker and The Cracker Factory. The later is considered by many to be among her finest performances.
Sadly, Natalie’s great film roles were behind her. She made the occasional appearance on the big screen in some forgettable pictures. Her cameo roles in The Candidate and Willie and Phil brought here more critical attention than leading her parts in Peeper, Meteor and The Last Married Couple in America. With no good film parts on the horizon, Natalie began to consider work in theater.
The 1980’s were a eventful time for the Wagner family. RJ’s series, Hart to Hart, was a big hit. Natalie’s beloved father, Nicholas Gurdin, passed away on November 6, 1980. By 1981, Natalie had found a role that appealed to her as a woman of Russian descent. She made plans to begin her new stage career in Anastasia, as the woman who may be the last surviving heir of the Czar of Russia. Production was well under way as Natalie began work on what was to be her final film, Brainstorm.
Brainstorm was the story of a scientist whose invention of a device that allows people to share their experiences reunites him with his estranged wife. Academy Award winner Christopher Walken played the lead. Special effects wizard Douglas Trumble was the director and had hoped to shoot parts of the film in his new Showscan format, which would produce ultra realistic igh resolution images on the screen (this proved unfeasible and the idea was later dropped.) Filming took place on location in the Carolinas.
During the holiday break, Natalie invited Christopher Walken back to Los Angeles for Thanksgiving. Afterwards, RJ, Natalie, Christopher Walken and Dennis Davern set out on a cruise in Splendour, a yacht RJ had purchased years earlier that Davern crewed for the family. They ended up in the waters off Santa Catalina Island.
The cruise was filled with tension. Natalie and RJ were at odds over the future of her career; she wanted to go back to work full-time, but he was still committed to his TV series, Hart to Hart., and was concerned about them both working at the same time. Adding to the problem, some rumors had spread on the set of Brainstorm that Natalie and Christopher Walken were seeing each other. Tempers had flared and Natalie spent a night on shore.
On the last night of her life, Natalie Wood dined with Robert Wagner, Christopher Walken, and Dennis Davern at a restaurant called Doug’s Harbor Reef. They had a good bit to drink before they headed back to Splendour. Once on board, Walken and Wagner began to argue. Natalie became angry and went to her cabin. Walken soon retired for the evening. RJ sat up for awhile and then went below to check on his wife. Natalie was not in their cabin. He searched the boat and discovered that the only dinghy, Valliant, was missing. Thinking that Natalie may have been so upset that she went ashore, RJ called for a boat and went back to the restaurant. Everything was closed and there was no sign of Natalie or the dinghy.
RJ returned to Splendour and called for a search. The Harbor patrol looked for Natalie Wood through the night. The next morning her body was found floating not far from the dinghy. November 27, 1981, sixteen years after her suicide attempt, Natalie Wood was dead at the age of 43.
There has been much speculation over the years about Natalie’s death. Little is known about how she came to be in the water that night. Natalie was in her night clothes and a jacket, and the dinghy engine was in the off position with the oars were stowed. Clearly she was not dresses to go anywhere on a late November night, nor did she ever get in the boat and start it. She was taking pain medication at the time of her death and had been drinking, so her reaction time may have been off. She had not taken her sleeping pills for the night, as was her habit, but seemingly was dressed for bed. There was a loud party on a boat nearby which may have drowned out her cries for help. She had bruises on her arms consistent with attempts to climb into the boat, but her wet jacket would have hindered her efforts. Death was due to drowning following loss of consciousness from hypothermia.
RJ would later offer this theory: Natalie started to get ready for bed, but the dinghy was not properly stowed and was banging against the side of the cabin, as had happened on previous occasions. Natalie threw on a jacket and went out to adjust Valliant. She simply slipped and was unable to save herself. But however it occurred, two things are certain; the Wagner family lost a loving wife and mother, and the world lost a bright and beloved talent.
Postscript on Natalie’s family
Maria Gurdin, Natalie’s mother, died on January 6, 1998 at the age of 85. Cause of death was pneumonia, following years of decline due to Alzheimer’s disease. She was the grandmother of seven and the great-grandmother of four.
Robert Wagner has continued acting in films and television. He is now married actress Jill St. John.
Richard Gregson went back to work in England and remarried.
Natasha Gregson began acting under the name Natasha Gregson Wagner (and more recently as Natasha Wagner.) She recently married D.V. DeVincentis
Courtney Wagner is partnered with Anita Ko in a jewelry design business - Wagner and Ko.
Kate Wagner is a television hostess who has appeared on Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous and E! Television.
Lana Wood wrote a memoir about her sisters life and recently co-produced the television movie The Mystery of Natalie Wood. She has a strained relationship with the Wagner family.
Olga (Tatuloff) Viripaeff, Natalie's older sister, married and lives outside the spotlight of showbusiness.
Significant Dates
I'd like to thank Marilyn J. Felling and the other members of the mailing list for contributing this information.
1938, July 20 - Born Natasha Nikolaevna Zacharenko in San Francisco, CA
1956, June - Graduation from Van Nuys High School, CA
1956, Dec. 6 - Met Robert John Wagner, Jr. (born Feb. 10, 1930 in Detroit, MI)
1957, Dec. 28 - Married Wagner in Scottsdale, AZ
1961, Dec. 5 - Hand & foot impressions set into concrete at GraumanÆs Chinese Theater, Hollywood, CA
1963, April - Divorce final from Wagner
1969, May 30 - Married Richard Gregson (born c.1929 in India)
1970, Sept. 29 - Birth of first child, Natasha Gregson
1971, Aug. 1 - Natalie left Gregson & filed for divorce soon after
1972, July 16 - Remarried Wagner in coastal waters off Malibu, CA
1974, March 9 - Birth of second child, Courtney Brooke Wagner
1981, Nov. 27 - Drowned in water off Catalina Island, CA
Award and Recognitions
1946- Awarded a Blue Ribbon citation from BOXOFFICE magazine, a film industry trade paper, for her film debut in "Tomorrow is Forever." She was heralded as "The Most Talented Young Actress of 1946."
1946- Named "The Most Talented Juvenile Motion Picture Star of the Year" by PARENTS magazine for her performance in "Tomorrow is Forever."
1949- Received an award as "Child of the Year" from the Children's National Council in celebration of October 16, 1949, which had been designated as Children's Day. This was one month after the release of "Father was a Fullback."
1956- Nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in the film "Rebel Without a Cause" in February.
1956- Proclaimed "Star of Tomorrow" by the National Theaters Owners Association after her work in "Rebel Without a Cause."
1957- Proclaimed "Sweetheart of the Castle Air Force Base" in January during production of her film, "Bombers B-52" which was filmed there on location.
1957- Voted "Miss Stratosphere of 1957" by the Strategic Air Command before the end of filming "Bombers B-52."
1962- Nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress in the film "Splendor in the Grass" in February.
1963- Voted the "Screen Personality of the Year" by LIFE magazine in a special year-end edition devoted entirely to the movies, selecting Natalie the quintessential screen personality of the moment.
1964- Nominated for the New York Film Critics Award for Best Actress in her film, " Love With the Proper Stranger."
1964- Nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress in the film "Love with the Proper Stranger" in February.
1964- Received an award from the United Theater Owners convention in Kansas City, Missouri, in recognition of her box office drawing power during this year.
1965- Presented with a Golden Globe award along with Paul Newman for being the "World Film Favorites." Presented by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association in January.
1966- Harvard Lampoon awards her the worst actress of this or any other year. She is the only recipient to pick up her award in person.
1977- Received an Emmy nomination for Best Actress in her TV movie, "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof."
1979- Awarded her second Golden Globe award, this time for her performance as Best Actress in a 6-hour TV mini-series, "From Here to Eternity."
1979- Received her second Emmy nomination, this time for her performance as Best Actress in "From Here to Eternity."
In the years just prior to her death, she was honored with retrospectives at more than one film festival, and she was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by a film buffs society.
This page was last updated on March 26, 2004
