Natalie Wood
“A gifted child star who matured into a luminous leading lady of postwar Hollywood.”
In 1955, Wood broke free of her child-star image with a fierce, vulnerable turn as Judy in Rebel Without a Cause opposite James Dean. The role earned her a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination and launched her adult career.
Child of Hollywood
Born Natalia Zacharenko in 1938 to Russian immigrant parents, Wood was pushed into acting by an ambitious stage mother. She won America's heart at age eight in Miracle on 34th Street.
Teen Idol to Star
Her Oscar-nominated role in Rebel Without a Cause marked a triumphant transition to adult parts. Through the early 1960s she starred in classics like West Side Story, Splendor in the Grass, and Gypsy.
Mysterious End
After balancing family life with a continuing career, Wood drowned off Catalina Island in 1981 at age 43. The circumstances of her death remain the subject of investigation and enduring fascination.
Career Timeline
- 1938Born Natalia Zacharenko in San Francisco
- 1943Begins acting in films as a small child
- 1947Charms audiences in Miracle on 34th Street
- 1955Oscar-nominated for Rebel Without a Cause
- 1956Plays kidnapped Debbie in The Searchers
- 1961Stars in West Side Story and Splendor in the Grass
- 1962Takes the title role in Gypsy
- 1963Third Oscar nod for Love with the Proper Stranger
- 1969Stars in Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice
- 1979Wins Golden Globe for From Here to Eternity TV
- 1981Drowns near Catalina Island, aged 43
Biggest Hits
- She was one of the rare child stars to achieve major adult stardom, bridging Old and New Hollywood.
- Her death by drowning off Santa Catalina Island remains controversial; the cause was amended in 2012 to 'drowning and other undetermined factors.'
The Moment You Remember
As Maria in <em>West Side Story</em>, Wood meets Tony across a crowded dance hall as the room blurs around them, a moment of first love that captured the romantic heart of the celebrated musical.
Portrait: Allan Warren · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons