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Original Name: Natalia Nikolaevna Zakharenko
Other Name: Natasha Gurdin
Nickname: Natasha
Place of Birth: San Francisco, California, U.S.A.
Date of Birth: July 20, 1938
Date of Death:: November 29, 1981 (age 43)
Cause of Death: Drowning (Santa Catalina Island, California)
Burial Site: Westwood Village Memorial Park, California
Born Natalia
Nikolaevna Zakharenko on July 20, 1938, Natalie Wood was the second daughter
of poor Russian immigrants. She became a child actress at the age of four
under the guide of her ambitious mother Maria Gurdin. It was then when she
took a more Americanized name "Natalie Wood" after Hollywood director Sam Wood. The first taste of
success came early in 1947 when little Natasha was starred as Susan Walker in the now-holiday-classic Miracle on 34th Street with John Payne, Edmund Gwenn, and Maureen O'Hara. She continued to work in the image of a wholesome American sweetheart
until she reached her teenage years when she no longer fit in any child roles.
It was time for her to make a change.
Judy, the role Wood portrayed
in Rebel Without A Cause, was her first try in adult roles. The film was a transitional
piece in her career. By then she had reached the age when teenagers began to break away from their parents. Although her mother did not approve this rebellious role personally, Wood fought for
it with all her heart and eventually won the part from the hands of many
other young actresses. Her performance in this picture earned her her first Academy nomination
for Best Actress in a Supporting Role (though she did not win). From then
on, Wood was no longer a child actress. She had made the transition to adult roles successfully.
| THE SCREEN GODDESS OF THE SWINING 60's |
During the 1960's, there were only a few child actresses who could make such a
successful transition into a mature actress. One of them was Elizabeth
Taylor, the other one was Natalie Wood. With a pair of large, lustrous
brown eyes, beautiful, dark hair, and an exotic, attractive good look, Wood
had created a score of big hits throughout her acting career. Many of her works (i.e. West Side Story, Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice) are considered as classics today. She would be dominating
the big (and small screen) for two more decades, until her tragic and
mysterious drowning in 1981 (ironically, she had always been feared of dark
water for all her life). She was survived by two-time husband Robert Wagner
(Hart to Hart) and daughters Katie, Natasha Gregson, and Courtney
Wagner.
Miracle on 34th Street (1946) - as Susan Walker
Rebel Without A Cause (1955) - as Judy
Splendor in the Grass (1961) - as Wilma Dean Loomis ("Deanie")
West Side Story (1961) - as Maria Nunez
Gypsy (1962) - as Louise "Gypsy Rose Lee" Hovick
Love With the Proper Stranger (1963) - as Angie Rossini
Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (1969) - as Carol Sanders
1956
- Academy Awards - Rebel Without A Cause (1955) - Best
Actress in a Supporting Role (nominated)
1957
- Golden Globes Awards - Most Promising Newcomer (won!)
1958
- Golden Laurel Awards - Marjorie Morningstar (1958) - Top Female
Dramatic Performance (nominated)
- Golden Laurel Awards - Top Female Star (nominated: 13th place)
1959
- Golden Laurel Awards - Top Female Star (nominated: 7th place)
1960
- Golden Laurel Awards - Top Female Star (nominated: 9th place)
1961
- Golden Apple Awards: Sour Apple - Least Cooperative Actress (won!)
- Golden Laurel Awards - Top Female Star (nominated: 14th place)
1962
- Academy Awards - Splendor in the Grass (1961) - Best Actress in
a Leading Role (nominated)
- Golden Laurel Awards - Top Female Star (nominated: 5th place)
- Golden Laurel Awards - Splendor in the Grass (1961) - Top Female
Dramatic Performance (3rd place)
1963
- BAFTA Film Award - Splendor in the Grass (1961) - Best Foreign
Actress (nominated)
- Golden Globes Awards - Gypsy (1962) - Best Motion Picture Actress:
Musical/Comedy (nominated)
- Golden Laurel Awards - Gypsy (1962) - Top Female Musical
Performance (2nd place)
1964
- Academy Awards - Love With the Proper Stranger (1963) - Best
Actress in a Leading Role (nominated)
- Golden Globe Awards - Love With the Proper Stranger (1963) - Best
Motion Picture Actress: Drama (nominated)
- Golden Laurel Awards - Top Female Star (3rd place)
- Golden Laurel Awards - Love with the Proper Stranger (1963) (2nd
place)
- Mar del Plata Film Festival - Love with the Proper Stranger (1963)
- Best Actress (won!)
1965
- Golden Laurel Awards - Female Star (nominated: 6th place)
- Golden Laurel Awards - Sex and the Single Girl (1964) -
Comedy Performance (nominated: 5th place)
1966
- Golden Apple Awards: Sour Apple - Least Cooperative Actress (won!)
- Golden Globes Awards - Inside Daisy Clover (1965) - Best Motion
Picture Actress: Musical/Comedy (nominated)
- Golden Globes Awards - World Film Favorite: Female (won!)
- Golden Laurel Awards - Female Star (nominated: 8th place)
1967
- Golden Globes Awards - This Property is Condemned (1966) -
Best Motion Picture Actress: Drama (nominated)
- Golden Laurel Awards - Female Star (3rd place)
- Golden Laurel Awards - This Property is Condemned (1966) -
Female Dramatic Performance (3rd place)
1968
- Golden Laurel Awards - Female Star (nominated: 12th place)
1970
- Golden Laurel Awards - Female Star (nominated: 9th place)
1971
- Golden Laurel Awards - Female Star (nominated: 9th place)
1980
- Golden Globes Awards - From Here to Eternity (1979) (mini)
- Best TV Actress: Drama (won!)
Category: Motion Picture
Star Location: 7000 Hollywood Blvd.
Natalie Wood Bascilica
Natalie Wood: A Tribute
NatalieWood.com (Spanish)
A Tribute to Natalie Wood
Natalie Wood Online
Swingin' Chicks of the '60s: Natalie Wood
Natalie Wood Fan and Collector Resource
The Natalie Wood Page
Natalie Wood at IMDB.com
Natalie Wood at Reel Classics
AS JUDY
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