Natalie Wood
Natalie Wood was an American actress whose film career began in childhood and continued into adulthood, with notable roles in films including *Miracle on 34th Street*, *Rebel Without a Cause*, *West Side Story*, and *Splendor in the Grass*.
Natalie Wood was an American actress whose film career began in childhood and continued into adulthood, with notable roles in films including *Miracle on 34th Street*, *Rebel Without a Cause*, *West Side Story*, and *Splendor in the Grass*. She died at age 43 in 1981 after drowning near Santa Catalina Island, California; the circumstances of her death remain disputed and were later reclassified as involving undetermined factors.
Early life and career
Natalie Wood was born in San Francisco in 1938 and began acting as a child. She later became a major Hollywood star, moving from child roles into acclaimed leading performances.
Notable films
Wood is especially remembered for major studio films and romantic dramas. Her best-known credits include *Miracle on 34th Street*, *Rebel Without a Cause*, *West Side Story*, and *Splendor in the Grass*.
Personal life
Wood was married twice, first to Richard Gregson and later to Robert Wagner. She had two children.
Death and legacy
Wood drowned in 1981 during a boat trip off Catalina Island. Her death became the subject of long-running public attention and official review, with the cause later amended to "drowning and other undetermined factors".
Key facts
- Wood began acting as a child and became one of Hollywood’s best-known film stars.
- Her signature films include *Miracle on 34th Street*, *Rebel Without a Cause*, *West Side Story*, and *Splendor in the Grass*.
- She died on November 29, 1981, after drowning near Santa Catalina Island during a boat trip.
- The Los Angeles County coroner initially ruled the death an accidental drowning, then amended the certificate to "drowning and other undetermined factors" in 2012.
- Wood was married to Robert Wagner and Richard Gregson and had two children.
Natalie Wood remains a widely recognized classic Hollywood figure for Canadian audiences through television screenings, film retrospectives, and ongoing media coverage of her life and death.
Frequently asked questions
How did Natalie Wood die?
Natalie Wood husband
Natalie Wood movies
Natalie Wood children
Natalie Wood cause of death
References
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natalie_WoodSupports: Birth name, birth and death dates, occupations, spouses, children, filmography highlights, and amended cause of death.
- Biography.com — https://www.biography.com/crime/natalie-wood-death-mysterySupports: Death circumstances, initial accidental drowning ruling, and later revised findings.
- BBC News — https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-21020747Supports: Boat-trip context, coroner review, bruises, and amended death certificate.
- People — https://people.com/natalie-wood-death-what-to-know-11856475Supports: Initial ruling, later amendment, and context around the death investigation.
- BBC News — https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-15789921Supports: Summary of Wood as a major actress and mother of two, and the uncertainty surrounding her death.