Stardom is only a by-product of acting. I don’t think being a movie star is a good enough reason for existing.
Natalie Wood was born Natalia Nikolaevna Zakharenko to Russian émigrés in California in 1938. Although her parents barely spoke any English, they changed their family name to Gurdin after becoming US citizens. Natalie appeared in her first film, “Happy Land” in 1943 at the age of 4 after a production company spotted Natalie in her home town. Natalie’s mother then moved the family to Los Angeles in the hope that more films would come her daughter’s way although this didn’t happen straight away. Three years later in 1946, Natalie appeared in her second film, “Tomorrow is Forever” and a year later at the age of eight appeared in “Miracle on 34th Street” which is still considered a classic today. As a child actress, Natalie was very busy, appearing in no less than 18 films during the late 1940’s and early 1950’s, starring opposite actors such as James Stewart and Bette Davis, although not all the films were successful.
When Natalie was 17, she appeared in the 1955 film, “Rebel Without a Cause” with James Dean and Sal Mineo which proved to be a big success and a defining moment in her development as an adult actress, which earned her her first Academy Award nomination. In 1961, Natalie appeared in “West Side Story” which despite allegedly being unhappy making the film, was a huge success winning various Oscars. Natalie Wood received her third Academy Award nomination for her role in the 1963 film, “Love With the Proper Stranger” starring opposite Steve McQueen. Although many of the films Natalie appeared in were commercially profitable, her acting was often criticized and in 1966 she won the Harvard Lampoon Worst Actress of the Year Award, becoming the first performer in the award’s history to accept it in person. Natalie Wood starred in two films, “Inside Daisy Clover” and “This Property is Condemned” with Robert Redford which both brought her Golden Globe nominations for Best Actress. After appearing in the hit film “Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice”, Natalie semi-retired to start a family with her second husband Richard Gregson although the couple divorced shortly afterwards.
During the 1970’s, Wood appeared in the occasional theatrical film although seemed to prefer roles in TV movies, including a remake of “From Here to Eternity” and the sci-fi film “Brainstorm” with co-star Christopher Walken which she was filming at the time of her death.
Natalie Wood had a colorful relationship life, having been involved with several actors such as Raymond Burr, Dennis Hopper, Warren Beatty, Nick Adams, Tab Hunter, Michael Caine and even Elvis Presley. Natalie was married twice to fellow actor Robert Wagner, divorcing him in 1962 and remarrying him ten years later.
In September and October 1981, Wood and Wagner were staying in North Carolina where Wood was filmingg “Brainstorm”. After Thanksgiving, they spent the night on their yacht near Catalina Island and while trying to leave the yacht or secure a dinghy, Natalie Wood slipped and fell overboard. The coroner recorded a verdict of accidental drowning, stating that Wood had drunk “seven or eight glasses of wine” and that her heavy clothes had pulled her down deeper into the water. Natalie Wood died at the age of 43.
