On the morning of November 29, 1981, the body of actress Natalie Wood was found floating off the coast of Catalina Island. What happened and why? To make sense of the circumstances of her death, we must first analyze what led up to it.
Backstory. Nov. 12, 1981, Santa Monica, Calif. Actor William Holden was found dead in his apartment. Several days before, he had fallen from his bed, striking his head on a night-table. Holden, intoxicated, did not realize the extant of his injury and bled to death.
Bill Holden’s former lover was Stephanie Powers. (Co-star of ABC’s television series “Hart to Hart”.) Some felt that their breakup may have led to his death.
Ms. Powers acting partner was Robert Wagner, husband of Natalie Wood. Wagner spent time “comforting” Powers during her mourning period. Miss Wood did not approve.
During this time frame, Natalie was filming “Brainstorm”, a big-budget, sci-fi film for MGM. Her co-star was Christopher Walken. There had been rumors that Wood and Walken were having an affair during filming, Wagner, aware of these rumors, hired spies at MGM to watch them. Natalie denied all. Her invitation to Chris Walken on that Thanksgiving weekend was to prove to her husband that she wasn’t having an affair.
Friday, Nov. 27. The pleasure cruise begins aboard their yacht known as the “Splendour”. Although the tension between Wagner and Walken was obvious, it was not until the next day when things became ugly.
Saturday, Nov. 28. Wood and Walken flirt together at a Catalina restaurant to Wagner’s irritation. (Is she trying to get even for Wagner spending time with Stephanie Powers?)
Later, aboard the Splendour, there was a discussion about acting. Wagner remarked that he missed his wife during the filming of “Brainstorm”. Walken responded that an actor must dedicate their life to their craft and felt Natalie should do likewise. This drew a strong reaction from Wagner, setting off an argument, culminating with him smashing a wine bottle on the table, saying, “What are you trying to do? Fuck my wife?”
Natalie stood up and said that she would not stand for that kind of behavior and left for her room. A contrite Wagner told Captain Dennis Davern that he would apologize to his wife. Instead, Davern heard a violent argument. (It’s rumored one of Natalie earrings was found with part of her earlobe still affixed.) Next, Capt. Davern witnessed them above board, still arguing. Wagner screamed: “GET OFF MY FUCKING BOAT!”
Natalie, still dressed for bed, wore a down jacket over her nightgown. Was Wood being ejected off the boat? Is this when the “accident” happened?
What happened then is open for conjecture. Davern heard the argument suddenly stop. Some believe Natalie accidentally fell overboard when she pulled away from her husband. Others think she fell after he slapped her. Regardless, this is when she fell in the ocean between 11 and 11:15 p.m.
Wagner had been forcing Wood off the “Splendour”, sending her off on his dinghy, (known as the “Valiant”), when she fell.
Reportedly, Walken heard the screaming and came out to help Wood. Wagner grabbed him by the arm and marched him back to his room, telling him to mind his own business.
On a nearby vessel, witness Marilyn Wayne heard someone screaming for help in the ocean. “Help me, I’m drowning!” She heard another voice say “We’re coming to get you!”
Conflicting stories remain. Wagner said, (according to conflicting accounts): “I’m going to leave her in the water for a while and teach her a lesson.” Then, he sat down, passed out and after waking up, realized his wife had drifted off to sea.
This is when Robert Wagner’s actions become criminal. Rather than try to save his wife, he does just the opposite. He tells Capt. Davern to search the boat, knowing she’s not there. He won’t let Davern turn on the searchlight because he either doesn’t want to find her or fears “bad publicity”. He delays reporting it to the Coast Guard for hours. Why?
I suspect Wagner thought Wood would turn him in for spousal abuse and attempted murder. This would mean prison and a ruined career. So, he let her drown.
Back in 1981, the police and the mainstream media didn’t do their job, reporting her death as an “accidental drowning”.
Capt. Dennis Davern and Natalie Wood
In 2011, the case was reopened because of the witness accounts by Dennis Davern and Marilyn Wayne. Davern claims that Wagner paid him off over the years to keep his silent. Since that time, his conscience would not allow him to lie anymore and that Robert Wagner’s actions (or inaction) led to his wife’s death.
Mr. Wagner refuses to give out any new information to the police and stands by his story: that Natalie Wood fell off their yacht while trying to board or tie down their dinghy. Many do not believe this story as Wood had trouble operating the complicated engine aboard the “Valiant”. Additionally, she was afraid of “dark water” and would not go out on the ocean alone.
Christopher Walken refuses to speak about what happened, except for those statements he gave to the police.
The fact remains that Robert Wagner lied about what happened. He lied about how the wine bottle was broken, saying it was because of “rough seas.” He lied about their argument, saying it was about “politics”. He lied about when she fell off the boat.
Over the years, Wagner’s story has changed a bit. He admits breaking the wine bottle in a rage. He now states that she may have been trying to board the “Valiant” to get away from their argument. And yet, how does any of this make sense? If she wanted to leave, why not ask Capt. Davern to take her back to shore? Or why not end the “pleasure cruise” and return? I suspect Mr. Wagner blames his wife for her own death because it was her invitation to Christopher Walken that led to the drunken argument which caused her death.
In 2012, Natalie’s official cause of death was changed from “accidental drowning” to “drowning and other undermined factors.” In 2018, Robert Wagner was named “a person of interest” by the police.
It would be many years before the widower would see his wife in her last movie “Brainstorm”, which he did not like. That speaks for itself.
Christopher Walken and Natalie Wood in “Brainstorm”
Text © 2019 – EricReports
It’s also a rarity, being one of the few films Chris Walken isn’t an insane psychic or murderer. He’s well-played as Dr. Michael Brace who helps invent the new wonder machine,
Natalie Wood is Karen Brace (wife of Michael) who designs the headphones for recording thought. It’s sad, of course, seeing the final performance of what they used to call a real movie star. (We don’t have any more.) At age 43, she’s still beautiful and it’s not surprising the film is dedicated to her in the final credits.