Natalie Wood was born on July 20, 1938 in San Francisco,
California with the birth name of Natalia Nikolaevna Gurdin. Her parents
were Russian émigrés who hardly spoke any comprehensible English. When
she was just four years old, Natalie appeared in her first film called
HAPPY LAND which was released in 1943. A production company had come to
Santa Rosa where the Gurdins were living at the time and won a bit part of
a crying little girl who had just dropped her ice cream cone. With stars
in her eyes for her daughter, Mrs. Gurdin packed the family and moved
south to Los Angeles in the hopes that more films would come her
daughter's way. Unfortunately, they did not, at least not right at the
moment and the family continued to scrape by much as they had done in
Santa Rosa. Three years later in 1946, Natalie appeared in her second film
entitled TOMORROW IS FOREVER. Although she was only seven at the time, she
flunked her first screen test for the role. After being convinced by her
mother to give her another test, the studio heads were impressed and
awarded the role to Natalie. As Carol Warren in THE BRIDE WORE BOOTS,
Natalie had already solidified her self as a bona fide star and she was
just a child. Most actresses would be envious at such a smooth start. In
1947's MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET, Natalie won movie patrons hearts as Susan
Walker in a film that is considered a Christmas classic to this day. For a
child actress, Natalie stayed very busy appearing in no less than 18 films
in the late 40's and early 50's. Not all the films she appeared in was a
success. As a matter of fact two were duds. In 1948, Natalie appeared in
SCUDDA HOO! SCUDDA HAY! a film best left undeveloped and in the can. The
other was THE SILVER CHALICE. Years later co-star Paul Newman took out an
ad and apologized for the movie when it made it to television. When she
was 17, Natalie appeared in a film which would further solidify her as a
star and send her into adulthood as an actress who still had a bright
future ahead of her. The film was 1955's REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE with stars
James Dean, Sal Mineo, and Dennis Hopper. She played Judy, a rebellious
high school student who was more concerned with hanging out with the wrong
crowd rather being a sweet teenager like her contemporaries. The result
was her first Academy Award nomination. After that one, Natalie began
taking on more adult type roles. She appeared in SPLENDOR IN THE GRASS,
WEST SIDE STORY (both in 1961), GYPSY (1962), and LOVE WITH A PROPER
STRANGER (1963). While Natalie was reported to be unhappy making WEST SIDE
STORY, the film did win Oscars for Best Picture, Best Direction, Best
Supporting Actor, and Best Supporting Actress. In short, the film was a
smash hit. Although she wasn't nominated for an Academy Award in that one,
Natalie did receive nominations for her roles in SPLENDOR IN THE GRASS and
LOVE WITH A PROPER STRANGER. Unfortunately, she won neither. After the
movie, THIS PROPERTY IS CONDEMNED in 1966, Natalie stayed away from
filming for three years giving herself time for herself and to consider
where she was going. When she did return her star quality had not
diminished a bit, when she played Carol Sanders in BOB & CAROL &
TED & ALICE. From that point on Natalie didn't work as much. She spent
most of her time raising her family. She made a few television
appearances, but nothing of substance with the exception of the TV
mini-series "From Here to Eternity". After making THE LAST
MARRIED COUPLE IN AMERICA (1980), Natalie began work on BRAINSTORM in 1981
with Christopher Walken. She did not live to see it released. On November
29, 1981, Natalie was sailing on the yacht she shared with her husband,
Robert Wagner, and their friend Walken, when Natalie drowned while trying
to board the dinghy tied up alongside the yacht. She was 43 years old.
Natalie had made 56 films for TV and the silver screen and it's hard to
say what she could have done while making her comeback. Brainstorm was
finally released in 1983. |