Natalie Wood was a beloved Hollywood icon whose films like West Side Story and Rebel Without a Cause shaped the Golden Age of cinema.
Her daughter, Natasha Gregson Wagner, born in 1970, inherited both her mother’s star power and her resilience, forging her own career while bravely confronting the tragedy that changed her life forever.
Natalie Wood: A Hollywood Legend and Devoted Mother
Natalie began acting as a child, earning Oscar noms for Rebel Without a Cause, Splendor in the Grass, and Love with the Proper Stranger. Balancing intense fame and motherhood, she had Natasha with producer Richard Gregson and later welcomed a second child with Robert Wagner.
Natasha Gregson Wagner: From Child of Tragedy to Voice of Healing
At just 11, Natasha faced the profound loss of her mother—drowning mysteriously in 1981 during a yacht trip with Robert Wagner and Christopher Walken. Fifty years later, she reflects, “You can be fifty and still miss your mom.”
As an adult, Natasha became an actress with credits in films like High Fidelity and Urban Legend, and appeared in TV dramas.
Her crowning achievement came as co‑producer of the HBO documentary Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind, where she led intimate interviews—including one with her stepfather—to reclaim her mother’s story and affirm the tragedy was accidental .
Claiming the Narrative of Love and Loss
Through her documentary and memoir More Than Love, Natasha has worked to reshape her mother’s legacy from scandal to celebration. She released a gardenia-scented perfume inspired by Natalie and said the project gave her “peace” and a stronger bond with her own daughter.
In her memoir’s excerpt she recalls a childhood full of both maternal rigor—like her insistence on brushed hair—and deep affection, highlighting their human bond beyond stardom .
A Lifelong Tribute
Today, Natasha continues to honor her mother’s memory—not just by preserving Natalie Wood’s work, but through candid storytelling about grief, identity, and love. “I wanted that for my daughter…great pride and great peace about my mom,” she said.
Natalie Wood shines on screen. Natasha Gregson Wagner shines for her, shining a light not only on her artistic achievements but the enduring power of a daughter’s love.
