Forty years after the tragic death of Natalie Wood, the Hollywood icon renowned for her roles in timeless classics such as "Splendor in the Grass," "West Side Story," and "Rebel Without a Cause," the mystery surrounding her passing persists as one of Tinseltown's most enigmatic tales.
On the morning of November 29, 1981, the lifeless body of the 43-year-old actress was discovered floating near Santa Catalina Island in Southern California, not far from the yacht Splendor, where she had been traveling with her husband, actor Robert Wagner, and fellow actor Christopher Walken.
Initial investigations concluded that Wood's demise was a tragic accident. The actress, having consumed alcohol that night, was believed to have slipped and fallen into the water while attempting to board an inflatable boat tethered to the yacht. However, unsettling details emerged, including bruises on Wood's body and a facial abrasion on her left cheek, raising questions that lingered for decades.
In 2011, the Los Angeles police reopened the case based on new witnesses' claims of an argument aboard the yacht the night Wood died. Captain Dennis Davern, who initially testified otherwise, changed his statement, revealing a conflict between Wood and her husband. Wagner, in his memoir, acknowledged an argument but denied any involvement in her death.
In 2018, Wagner was designated a "person of interest," though not a suspect. The actress's relatives questioned the initial account, given Wood's known fear of water, a fear instilled since childhood when a psychic warned her mother about "dark waters" and predicted her drowning.
In a pivotal correction to Wood's death certificate in 2012, authorities acknowledged uncertainty, citing "drowning and other undetermined factors" as the cause. The circumstances leading to her immersion "are not clearly established."
The ill-fated journey began on November 27, 1981, when Wood, Wagner, and Walken set sail for Santa Catalina. After a night of abundant drinking on the island, the trio returned to the yacht. At 1:30 a.m., Wagner and the boat's captain reported Wood missing along with the inflatable boat.
Wood's body was discovered at 7:45 a.m. on November 29, floating near rocks. The official narrative suggested a drunk Wood attempted to leave on the inflatable boat, stumbled, fell into the sea, and drowned in her wet down jacket.
The perplexing question that lingers is what compelled Natalie Wood to venture away from the yacht that fateful night. Despite Wagner's initial denial, he later admitted to a disagreement with Walken about Wood's career. In Wagner's account, Walken retired to bed after the argument, while Wagner and the captain cleaned up the broken bottle remnants. Upon discovering Wood's absence, Wagner promptly alerted the coast guard.
Despite these clarifications, the death of Natalie Wood continues to spark theories about the events aboard the Splendor. Moreover, her untimely demise further intertwines with the tragic narratives of the other two stars from "Rebel Without a Cause" - James Dean and Sal Mineo - creating an enduring myth around one of celluloid's most iconic films. The mystery endures, inviting speculation and fascination, four decades after Hollywood lost one of its brightest stars.
