Natalie Wood, a timeless icon of Hollywood’s Golden Age, captivated audiences with her incredible talent, beauty, and charm. Born Natalia Nikolaevna Zakharenko on July 20, 1938, in San Francisco, California, she began her illustrious career at a young age, making her screen debut at just four years old. Over the years, Natalie starred in numerous beloved films, including “Miracle on 34th Street,” “Rebel Without a Cause,” and “West Side Story,” cementing her legacy as one of the most celebrated actresses of her time.
This photo collection offers a glimpse into the enchanting life of Natalie Wood, showcasing her journey from a child star to a leading lady in Hollywood. Through these images, we celebrate her remarkable career, personal milestones, and the enduring charm that continues to inspire generations of fans. Join us as we explore the life of Natalie Wood through these captivating photos, each telling a unique story of a star who left an indelible mark on the world of cinema.
1938: A Young Natalia
The actress was born Natalia Nikolaevna Zakharenko on July 20, 1938, to Russian immigrant parents in San Francisco, California.
1943: Her First Role
Natalie Wood’s first acting jobs were uncredited roles in the 1943 films “The Moon Is Down” and “Happy Land.” It was her performance in “Happy Land,” however, that caught the attention of director Irving Pichel, setting the four-year-old actress up for success.
1945: Becoming Natalie Wood
In 1945, on the advice of director Irving Pichel, Natalie Wood’s mother moved the family to Los Angeles. Pichel, who had taken an interest in the young actress, suggested she adopt the Americanized name “Natalie” and change her surname to “Wood” in honor of director Sam Wood.
1946: A Child Actress
Natalie Wood made a big splash in her first major film role as Margaret Ludwig in “Tomorrow Is Forever,” starring opposite Orson Welles. Welles famously referred to the young actress as “so good, she was terrifying.” She followed her speaking role debut with multiple films that year and in 1947.
1947: Her Biggest Role Yet
Natalie Wood delivered one of her most beloved performances as Susan Walker in “Miracle on 34th Street,” starring alongside Maureen O’Hara. At just eight years old, Wood’s place in Hollywood was firmly established.
1947: A Studio Contract
Following the success of “Miracle on 34th Street,” Natalie Wood’s contract with 20th Century Fox was revised to $1,000 a week, with a plan for her salary to increase gradually over seven years to $3,300 per week.
1949: An Accident on Set
At nine years old, Natalie Wood endured a terrifying accident on the set of “The Green Promise.” While filming a storm scene, she fell through a broken bridge and nearly drowned. The incident left her with a protruding bone in her left wrist and instilled a lifelong fear of water.
1954: Becoming a Teenager
In the early ’50s, Natalie Wood struggled to convince studios of her ability to transition from child star to screen siren. Consequently, she was often relegated to television roles during this period.
1955: A Breakthrough Role
At the age of 16, Natalie Wood showcased her talents in her first mature role as Judy in “Rebel Without a Cause,” starring alongside James Dean. Her performance earned her a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
1955: A Warner Brothers Deal
After casting Natalie Wood in “Rebel Without a Cause,” Warner Bros. signed the former child star to a seven-year contract at $400 a week.
1955: A Complicated Relationship
Natalie Wood, pictured here at her Los Angeles home with her mother, Maria Zakharenko, and younger sister, had a complex relationship with her mother, who managed her career.
An aspiring performer herself, Maria was known for pushing her daughters into the industry and maintaining tight control over their careers.
1956: Studio Constraints
Over the years, Natalie Wood voiced her frustration with the Hollywood studio system, where stars had little say in the films they appeared in, as studios held all the power.
Capitalizing on the momentum from “Rebel Without a Cause,” Warner Bros. lined up several films for Wood, including “The Searchers.” However, Wood considered this role one of her least favorites, feeling she wasn’t well-cast for the part.
1956: A Brief Romance
At 17, Natalie Wood frequently appeared in gossip columns for her romantic interests, including a brief romance with Elvis Presley. However, their relationship ended shortly after it began.
1956: A True Hollywood Star
Natalie Wood is seen among Hollywood’s elite at the 1956 Modern Screen Awards, alongside stars such as Doris Day, Debbie Reynolds, Janet Leigh, Tony Curtis, and Kirk Douglas.
1957: Getting Married
Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood began seeing each other after a studio-arranged date. The couple married on December 28, 1957, in Scottsdale, Arizona.
1959: A Studio Suspension
Natalie Wood was placed on suspension by Warner Bros. after refusing roles in “The Miracle” and “A Summer Place,” and subsequently failing to appear on the set of “The Young Philadelphians” in protest of another unwanted role.
Her stand against studio head Jack Warner ultimately benefited her: she was granted the right to choose one of the movies she appeared in each year.
1960: Tabloid Magnets
After her marriage to Robert Wagner, the couple experienced a significant increase in media attention.
1961: A Big Role
More than five years after her transition from child actor to established screen star, Natalie Wood captivated audiences in “West Side Story.”
Portraying the love-torn teenager Maria, Wood performed all her own dancing in the musical, although Broadway star Marni Nixon dubbed her singing.
1962: Getting Divorced
After five years of marriage, Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner separated in 1961. Wood then became involved with her “Splendor in the Grass” costar, Warren Beatty.
1962: A New Romance
Beatty and Wood’s relationship experienced its share of ups and downs, largely due to Beatty’s rumored infidelity. After dating for two years, having met on the set of “Splendor in the Grass,” the couple eventually parted ways.
1962: At the Top
Natalie Wood’s performance in “Splendor in the Grass” earned her a second Academy Award nomination, and her first for Best Actress. At this point in her career, she was among Hollywood’s top-billed actresses and competing for the most significant roles in the industry.
1963: Another Big Role
One of Natalie Wood’s most successful films was the 1963 movie Love with the Proper Stranger, which also starred Steve McQueen.
1964: A Record-Breaking Nomination
In 1964, at the age of 25, Natalie Wood received her third Oscar nomination, becoming the youngest person to achieve this feat. She still holds this record today, though she sadly never won an Academy Award.
1965: Her Secret Beauty Trick
Natalie Wood’s love for dazzling jewelry was well-known, but there was a practical reason behind her choice of bulky bracelets. Following her childhood accident on the set of The Green Promise, which left her left wrist with a protruding bone, Wood used her bracelets to cover it up.
1966: A Career Slump
After a series of poorly received films, such as Sex and the Single Girl in 1964 and The Great Race in 1965, Natalie Wood was awarded the Harvard Lampoon’s Worst Actress of the Year. Demonstrating her sense of humor, she attended the ceremony to accept the award in good spirits.
1966: Putting Her Mental Health First
After a suicide attempt in 1966, Natalie Wood chose to take a step back from the film industry to focus on her mental health. Penelope was her last film for three years.
1967: Sacrificing Big Roles
Despite her retreat from the spotlight, Natalie Wood remained in high demand for projects. During her Hollywood hiatus, she turned down major roles, including a lead part in Bonnie and Clyde.
1969: A Return to Film
Making a stellar return to the big screen, Natalie Wood starred in the film Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice, a movie about two swinger couples. The film received rave reviews from critics and performed well at the box office.
1969: Getting Married Again
After her breakup with Warren Beatty, Natalie Wood began dating British producer Richard Gregson in 1966. The couple married in a Russian Orthodox ceremony at the Holy Virgin Mary Church on May 30, 1969.
1970: Her First Child
Natalie Wood and Richard Gregson welcomed their only child together, daughter Natasha Gregson, on September 29, 1970. In an interview for HBO‘s Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind, Natasha recalled, “We weren’t raised by someone who seemed like a movie star at all.
1971: A Family of Stars
Natalie’s younger sister, Lana Wood, also made her mark in the spotlight, starring as Plenty O’Toole in the 1971 James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever.
1971: Becoming a Sex Symbol
In the 1970s, Natalie Wood was voted one of the top sex stars by Playboy magazine.
1972: Another Divorce
In 1971, Natalie Wood and Richard Gregson filed for separation, and their divorce was finalized the following year.
1972: Reuniting with Robert
After her separation from Richard Gregson, Natalie Wood reunited with her ex-husband Robert Wagner. They were married once again in Paradise Cove in 1972.
1974: A Second Child
After her separation from Richard Gregson, Natalie Wood reunited with her ex-husband Robert Wagner. They were married once again in Paradise Cove in 1972.
1974: A Missed Opportunity
Two years after their reunion, Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner welcomed their first child together, daughter Courtney Brooke Wagner, on March 9, 1974.
She was raised alongside Wood’s daughter Natasha Gregson Wagner and Wagner’s daughter Katie Wagner, both from previous marriages.
1976: Family First
Natalie Wood was offered the role of Daisy Buchanan in The Great Gatsby, but the studio requested a screen test since she hadn’t made a film in years. Wood reportedly refused, and the part ultimately went to Mia Farrow.
#38 1981: Her Final Film
Wood and Wagner’s relationship was stronger the second time around, with Natalie Wood focusing more on her family than on fame. While her children were young, she significantly reduced her work commitments.
1981: A Mysterious Death
On November 29, 1981, Natalie Wood drowned in the ocean off Catalina Island. The 43-year-old actress was aboard her yacht, the Splendour, with her husband Robert Wagner and costar Christopher Walken.
Initially deemed an accidental drowning, the official cause of death was updated in August 2012 to “drowning and other undetermined factors.”
1986: A Hollywood Honor
In 1986, Wood was posthumously honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The late actress is survived by her husband, Robert Wagner; sister Lana Wood; and two daughters, Natasha and Courtney.