Natalie Wood Wiki: Natalie Wood was one of the 20th century’s most famous and talented actresses. Wood was born in San Francisco, California, on July 20, 1938. At age four, she started acting. During her time in movies, she went from playing children to playing young adults. This made her a favorite in Hollywood. Her mother, Maria Zudilova, and her father, Nicholas Zacharenko, came to the U.S. from Russia. Wood was born Natalie Zacharenko. Lana Wood was Natalie Wood’s sister, and she also became an actress.
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Just like her work, her personal life had its ups and downs. In 1957, she got married to Robert Wagner, but they split up in 1962. Then, in 1969, Natalie married Richard Gregson, and she and Richard had a daughter named Natasha. They got a divorce in 1972, and that same year, Natalie married Wagner again. In 1974, Courtney was born to two people. In 1981, when she was 43, she drowned in the Pacific Ocean, a sad end to her life. This article digs deep into Wood’s life and work, revealing interesting facts about both.
Natalie Wood Wiki/Bio
| Personal Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Natalie Wood |
| Birth Name | Natalie Zacharenko |
| Date of Birth | July 20, 1938 |
| Place of Birth | San Francisco, California |
| Date of Death | November 29, 1981 |
| Cause of Death | Drowning |
| Parents | Maria Zudilova and Nicholas Zacharenko |
| Siblings | Lana Wood (Sister) |
| Marriages | Robert Wagner (1957–1962, 1972–1981), Richard Gregson (1969–1972) |
| Children | Natasha Gregson Wagner, Courtney Brooke Wagner |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Van Nuys High School |
| Religion | Russian Orthodox |
| Zodiac Sign | Cancer |
| First Film | Happy Land (1943) |
| Last Film | Brainstorm (1983) |
Natalie Wood Height, Weight, and More
Natalie Wood was known for being beautiful and slim. She was a beautiful woman with a petite frame that made her look graceful on screen. Natalie Wood stood about 1.52 meters (5 feet) tall and weighed about 52 kilograms (115 pounds).
Her dark brown hair and light brown eyes made her look even better. She was known for living a healthy life, and when she had free time, she was often seen working out. Even though she was small, she was full of energy and loved what she did, which made her a well-liked Hollywood figure.
| Physical Attributes | Details |
|---|---|
| Height | 1.52 meters (5 feet) |
| Weight | 52 kg (115 lbs) |
| Eye Color | Light Brown |
| Hair Color | Dark Brown |
| Body Type | Slim |
| Dress Size | 2 (US) |
| Shoe Size | 7 (US) |
Natalie Wood Career Information
Natalie Wood has been playing since she was four years old. She had a part in the famous movie “Miracle on 34th Street” when she was just eight years old. As a teenager, she got her first Academy Award nod for her role in “Rebel Without a Cause.”
Her work grew with parts in movies like “West Side Story” and “Love with the Proper Stranger.” During the 1970s, she stopped acting and focused more on her family and personal life. She returned to acting with parts in two feature films and two TV shows. “Brainstorm,” her last movie, came out after she died in 1983.
| Career Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Career Start | 1943 |
| Career End | 1983 |
| Notable Roles | Rebel Without a Cause, West Side Story, Love with the Proper Stranger |
| Academy Award Nominations | Best Supporting Actress (Rebel Without a Cause), Best Actress (Splendor in the Grass, Love with the Proper Stranger) |
| Golden Globe Wins | Best Actress (From Here to Eternity) |
| Career Break | 1970s |
| Final Film | Brainstorm |
| Television Appearances | The Affair, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Switch, Hart to Hart |
| Stage Debut | Anastasia (planned in 1982, never performed due to her death) |
Natalie Wood Net Worth Information
Natalie Wood had a tremendous four-decade-long career in Hollywood. From her early parts as a child actress to her later roles in movies that became classics, Wood proved that she was a skilled and in-demand actress.
Even though she took a break from movies in the 1970s, she kept living well from her TV parts and earlier film success. According to the time of her Death in 1981, Wood was worth about $10 million at estimates.
| Net Worth Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Net Worth at the time of Death | $10 Million |
| Primary Income Source | Acting |
| Secondary Income Source | Endorsements |
| Real Estate | Home in Beverly Hills, California |
| Philanthropy | Supported various charitable causes |
| Inheritance | Her daughters, Natasha and Courtney, inherited her wealth |
| Financial Troubles | None known |
| Assets | Owned a yacht named Splendour |
| Salary | Varying per film |
| Investments | Unknown |
10 Interesting Facts About Natalie Wood
- Natalie Wood started her acting career when she was just four years old.
- Her birth name was Natalie Zacharenko, but she changed it to Wood to appeal to English-speaking audiences.
- Wood received three Academy Award nominations throughout her career.
- She took a break from films in the 1970s to focus on her personal life and family.
- Wood was married twice to actor Robert Wagner.
- Her Death in 1981 was ruled as “drowning and other undetermined factors.”
- She was in the middle of filming “Brainstorm” at the time of her Death.
- Natalie Wood started her acting career at the tender age of four, making her one of the youngest professional actresses of her time.
- She received her first Academy Award nomination as a teenager for her role in the film Rebel Without a Cause (1955).
- In addition to her film career, Wood was also successful in television. She won a Golden Globe Award for her performance in the remake of From Here to Eternity (1979).
- Despite having a successful acting career, Wood also experienced a lot of personal challenges. She was married twice to the same man, Robert Wagner, with whom she had one daughter.
- Wood was of Russian descent, and her original surname was Zacharenko before it was changed to Wood for her acting career.
- Her life was tragically cut short when she drowned in the Pacific Ocean at 43. The circumstances surrounding her death have remained a mystery and a subject of speculation.
- Natalie Wood’s last movie, Brainstorm (1983), was released posthumously. The film was dedicated to her memory in the closing credits.
- She was a versatile actress who managed to transition from child roles to more mature characters throughout her career, something that’s not easy to achieve in Hollywood.
- Wood’s two marriages to actor Robert Wagner were highly publicized. Their remarriage was incredibly uncommon in Hollywood circles.
- In one of her last interviews, she was described as “our sexual conscience on the silver screen.” Despite the infrequent critical praise, she consistently had work in the industry.
Conclusion
In the end, Natalie Wood’s life and career were marked by her remarkable ability, her incredible strength, and their tragic endings. Even though she had to deal with controversies and problems, Wood is still a Hollywood icon because of her excellent acting skills and ability to smoothly shift from child star to adult actress. Her premature Death raised even more questions about her life and made it even more mysterious.
Even though we may never know the whole truth about how she died, Natalie Wood’s legacy lives on through her memorable performances, undeniable impact on the industry, and enduring status as a Hollywood star. Her life story reminds us of the difficulties and rewards of being an actor and the personal problems often hidden behind glamour and fame.
