Welcome to the fifth installment of our new biography series! Their purpose is to provide you with a brief overview of a legacy and their life while sharing quality resources for you to continue learning shall you desire to do so! There are plenty of avenues to learn about the mysterious passing of the beloved Natalie Wood – this will not be the place to do so. We opt to shine a light on the accomplishments and full life she lived.
Natalie Wood, beloved child actor turned teen idol turned glamorous film star, created a remarkable legacy which is continued on through the hard work and dedication of her two daughters.
Born July 20, 1938, in San Francisco, California, Natalie Wood worked her first job in a silent uncredited role at the age of 4 in the 1943 film Happy Land. The young girl left such a positive impression on director Irving Pichel that he called Natalie back for a credited role in Tomorrow Is Forever alongside Orson Welles when she was only 6 years old. Though the success came young, these early years with an overbearing stage mother left a lasting impression on Natalie for the entirety of her life.
The first of Wood’s Academy Award nominations came in 1956 after her role alongside James Dean and Sal Mineo in the 1955 film Rebel Without A Cause. Her life’s body of work would earn three Oscar nominations and win three Golden Globes.
Therapy and mental health were extremely prominent matters in Natalie Wood’s life. There was a three-year period in her life publicly dedicated to “focusing on her mental health” after a dark length of time where she severely struggled mentally. Beyond her personal matters, Wood fought for the ability to choose her own films, equal pay, equal rights, and helping the LGBTQ community. Mart Crowley, who was one of Wood’s closest friends, was encouraged to write his infamous 1968 play The Boys In The Band by Natalie, who also hired him as her assistant to help support himself financially during the process of writing. Her fight with the studio for control over her career led to a small victory of Natalie being permitted to pick one film a year – the first choice she made being West Side Story.
As Natalie matured, her priorities naturally shifted. Family life became her everything from the time she became pregnant with her eldest daughter, Natasha Gregson Wagner, in 1970. This led to a semi-retirement and the ability for Wood to live at a much slower pace. Her second daughter, Courtney, was born in 1974 after remarrying Robert Wagner.
The final of Natalie’s performances, Brainstorm, was released posthumously and in dedication to her. Natalie Wood passed away on November 29, 1981, at 43 years old.
Natalie Wood Films You May Recognize:
If you wish to continue learning about Natalie, the following resources are available for you to visit…
Podcasts:
Books:
Articles:
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The Star-Crosses Relationship of Robert Redford and Natalie Wood
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TIME – Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind Illuminates Elusive Star
Documentary:
Featured image credit: Bill Ray (LIFE Magazine; taken in 1963)
Dominique Benedict is the founder and owner of Breakfast At Dominique’s. Her favorite topics include classic everything from movies to music to cars and the 90s film, Dazed and Confused.