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Natalie Wood

Celebrity

Natalie Wood: Biography

Natalie Wood
  • Birth Name: Natalia Nikolaevna Zakharenko
  • Birth Place: San Francisco, CA
  • Date of Birth / Zodiac Sign: 07/20/1938, Cancer
  • Date of Death: 11/29/1981
  • Profession: Actor
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Natalie Wood Fast Facts:
  • The daughter of Russian immigrants who changed the family name to Gurdin after becoming U.S. citizens. The stage name Natalie Wood was given to her by a Hollywood producer who thought it was more marketable. She never legally changed her name from Natasha Gurdin.
  • Began career as a movie extra at age 4. At 8, she captured the hearts of audiences in the Christmas film Miracle on 34th Street.
  • As a teen actress ready to escape her child-star image, she accepted a role opposite heartthrob James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause, and earned her first Academy Award nomination.
  • Was associated romantically throughout her career with numerous high-profile men, including Elvis Presley, Warren Beatty and Dennis Hopper.
  • A publicity-staged date for her 18th birthday with handsome rising star Robert Wagner began a romance that resulted in marriage a year later.
  • Despite her fear of water and inability to swim, director Elia Kazan manipulated her into performing the reservoir scene in Splendor in the Grass (1961) instead of using a stunt double.
  • While her songs in West Side Story (1961) were recorded by renowned vocalist Marni Nixon, she did do her own singing the next year in Gypsy (1962).
  • In 1962, filed for divorce from husband Wagner after a reported infidelity. Married producer Richard Gregson in May 1969.
  • After learning Gregson was having an affair, she filed for divorce in 1971 and found comfort in the arms of first husband Wagner. They remarried in 1972.
  • Accidentally drowned at age 43 while spending a weekend on her yacht with husband Wagner and friend Christopher Walken.
  • Her death came while she'd been filming the sci-fi thriller Brainstorm; a new ending was devised using pre-existing footage.
  • Following her death, her sister Lana Wood authored a tell-all memoir and later coproduced the 2004 television movie The Mystery of Natalie Wood, directed by Peter Bogdanovich.
  • Natalie Wood Relationships:
  • Robert Wagner - Husband
  • Courtney Wagner - Daughter
  • Lana Wood - Sister
  • Natasha Gregson Wagner - Daughter
  • Nikolai Gurdin - Father
  • Olga Gurdin - Sister
  • Richard Gregson - Ex-husband
  • Maria Gurdin - Mother
  • Natalie Wood Awards:
  • 1961 Oscar: Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role - Nominee
  • 1963 Oscar: Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role - Nominee
  • 1964 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama - Nominee
  • 1955 Oscar: Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role - Nominee
  • 1957 Golden Globe: New Star of the Year - Actress - Winner
  • 1963 Golden Globe: Actress in a Leading Role - Musical or Comedy - Nominee
  • 1966 Golden Globe: Actress in a Leading Role - Musical or Comedy - Nominee
  • 1962 BAFTA Awards: Best Foreign Actress - Nominee
  • 1962 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama - Nominee
  • 1967 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama - Nominee
  • 1980 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama - Winner
  • 1966 Golden Globe: Henrietta Award (World Film Favorites) - Winner
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