Natalie Wood facts for kids

Natalie Wood
Natalie Wood
	Wood in 1979
Born	Natalia Nikolaevna Zacharenko ; July 20, 1938; San Francisco, California, United States
Died	November 29, 1981 (aged 43); Santa Catalina Island, California, United States
Cause of death	Drowning and other undetermined factors
Resting place	Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery
Other names	Natasha Gurdin; Natalie Wood Wagner
Education	Van Nuys High School
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1943–1981
Spouse(s)	Robert Wagner (m. 1957–1962) ; Richard Gregson (m. 1969–1972) ; Robert Wagner (m. 1972–1981)
Children	Natasha Gregson Wagner (b. 1970); Courtney Wagner (b. 1974)
Relatives	Lana Wood (sister)

Natalie Wood (July 20, 1938 - November 29, 1981) was an American actress.

Early life

Natalie Wood's parents were Russian immigrants Nikolai Stepanovich Zakharenko and Maria Stepanovna. Her parents moved to Santa Rosa, California. The family moved to Los Angeles. Wood began a career there. Her younger sister, Svetlana Zacharenko also became an actress using the stage name Lana Wood.

Career

In the 1950s, Wood became a teen idol. When she shot the movie Rebel Without a Cause with James Dean, she was 16 years old. She got an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress for the role as Judy in this movie. She got a Golden Globe Award nomination in the category New Star Of The Year – Actress.

Her most successful role was as "Maria" in the movie West Side Story in 1961.

Personal life

Wood was married to Robert Wagner from 1957 to 1962. She was married to Richard Gregson for a short time. They had a daughter, Natasha Gregson Wagner. In 1972, Wood and Wagner married again.

Death

In 1981, Wood worked on the movie Brainstorm with Christopher Walken. During a boat trip with Walken and her husband Robert Wagner, she drowned near Santa Catalina Island, California. She is buried in Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery.