He was married to actress Natalie Wood, whose 1981 death . In 1981, she was making the sci-fi movie Brainstorm with Walken, and the two hadbecome pals. That was my goal, or my intention for that interview., Asked whether she has had versions of this conversation with her stepfather about her mothers death over the years, Gregson Wagner said, Weve had versions of it. Over the course of the investigation, the L.A. County Coroner changed Woods cause of death from accidental drowning to drowning and other undetermined factors, due to the bruises on her right forearm, left wrist, and right knee, a scratch on her neck and a scrape on her forehead. We were both in shock, Wood said to People. Their romance and subsequent marriages kept fans enthralled over the course of two decades. But Robert R.J. Wagner was different. I did lie on a report several years ago We didnt take any steps to see if we could locate her. At the time . The dinghy was found about a mile from the yacht and a mile from where Woods drowned body was found. But Natalie did nothing about it, because of my mom telling her that shed ruin her career, shed never work again., After that, Natalie was so guarded And she really mistrusted men after that.. After her mothers death, Wagner and her father, Woods second husband, Richard Gregson, agreed to allow Wagner to continue to raise Natasha and her younger sister, Courtney (Wagners daughter with Wood), along with his older daughter, Katie (by his second wife, Marion Marshall). Terms of Use Their first marriage lasted from 1957 to 1962, and the Hollywood stars would go on to remarry in 1972. I was confused., That really affected her entire life how she looked at things and how she perceived things, Lana recalled. The People story, published this week, finds the 86-year-old actor opening up about his relationship with his stepdaughter, Natasha Gregson Wagner. The book part memoir, part true-crime investigation using new evidence dug up by homicide detectives aims to dispel the myths and illuminate the facts surrounding Natalies tragic death. At the time of her tragic and untimely death in 1981, Hollywood darling Natalie Wood was married to actor Robert Wagner. At the time of Woods' death, Natasha was only 11 years old, leaving her with a sense of loss that she has continued to nurse over the years. Chris Farley (at left with David Spade and Christina Applegate) was found dead of a drug overdose on December 18, 1997. Investigator calls Robert Wagner a "person of interest" in Natalie Wood drowning death. Awake with Walken and feeling high from the alcohol, Wagner says that Walken then told him that he believed Wood, a brilliant actor, needed to continue acting. Fox says Parkinson's battle getting 'harder': 'I'm not gonna be 80', Padma Lakshmi claps back at trolls: 'I have boobs, I have nipples', Kendall Jenner rocks sheer top, fur mini skirt for date night with Bad Bunny, Miley Cyrus mom, Tish Cyrus, engaged to Prison Break star Dominic Purcell, Fans confused over Lala Kent, Ariana Madixs White House dinner appearance, Woman has 'loud and full body orgasm' during LA Philharmonic concert. Looking for more? Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner were on their second marriage and by all accounts happier than ever when the actress tragically drowned in November 1981. . Poor Jimmy Dean sat through it and then told [me] it was wonderful.. It was definitely exhausting. Wood died on 29 November 1981 after disappearing from a yacht she was on with her husband, Robert Wagner, . You can imagine., An emotional Wagner then recalls howbefore returning to the familys Beverly Hills homehe met with his therapist to discuss how he should tell Natasha and Courtney about their mothers death. I never questioned him. And it turns out that Robert moved on from Natalie very shortly after her tragic death by drowning. I just heard about Natalie, said her friend on the line. Sign up for our daily Hollywood newsletter and never miss a story. They had a daughter, Courtney. Being on the water was a passion they both shared, though Wood often spoke of her fear of deep water., Wildly in love, the newlyweds began their life together under the constant glare of publicity, something Wood had been dealing with since her years as a child star. Natasha was born to Woods and her then-husband Richard Gregson on September 29, 1970. According to a Vanity Fair profile on her, she once wrote a letter to the Los Angeles District Attorney that said, Why, year after year, is this man [Wagner] allowed his lies, allowed to move out of the state, allowed to refuse to meet and speak to the detectives continually! He left behind an ever-increasing fan base, a catalog of music and one of culture's most persistent mysteries. ET on HBO and HBO Latino, and Monday, May 11 at 1:30 p.m. Article continues below advertisement. View our online Press Pack. 25% off everything with this Red Letter Days discount code, 20 extra entries with this Omaze promo code, Extra 20% off selected fashion and sportswear at Very, Get up to 10% off using the Booking.com app, Compare broadband packages side by side to find the best deal for you, Compare cheap broadband deals from providers with fastest speed in your area, All you need to know about fibre broadband, Best Apple iPhone Deals in the UK April 2023, Compare iPhone contract deals and get the best offer this April, Compare the best mobile phone deals from the top networks and brands. Forty years ago, actress Natalie Wood drowned off the coast of Catalina Island. We talked about what had happened to our marriages. Dennis Davern was one of only four people on "Hogan's Heroes" actor Bob Crane was found bludgeoned to death in his apartment on June 29, 1978, at the age of 49. When you take something, and you put it into the light, it doesnt feel as hampering, and thats what we were doing. The ultimate problem is we dont know how she ended up in the water.. Soon, he claims to have been stuck in Wagners home, getting around only by a limousine that would wait out the front of wherever he wanted to go. He didn't live to see the Academy award him the best supporting actor Oscar for his role of the Joker. Is Robert Wagner Married? Did Natalie Wood's Widow Remarry? Police said he died from an accidental overdose of prescription medications, including painkillers, anti-anxiety drugs and sleeping pills. Updated His wifes death hit the family hard, he said. Wagner eventually found love again with actress Jill St. John, whom he married in 1990. And Natalie's own sister, Lana Wood deemed a credible source by detectiveshas spent years publicly sharing her doubts that Wood's death was an accident and demanding that Wagner, her . The couple spent much of their honeymoon on a yacht, navigating the Florida Keys. Then Wagner kicked her out, explaining he was the rightful owner. Dennis Davern, the Splendour's captain, also claimed Wood and Wagner argued the night before Wood died. Directed by French filmmaker Mawenn, the film marks Depps first major film role since settling his defamation suit against ex-wife Amber Heard. In addition to Woods three Oscar nominations (for 1955s Rebel Without a Cause, 1961s Splendor in the Grass, and 1963s Love With the Proper Stranger), Wood was a devoted mother to Gregson Wagner and Courtney, and an empowered star who leveraged her profile to handpick her roles and costars including Redfordthe then-unknown she pushed to be cast in 1965s Inside Daisy Clover. In contrast to the first time they said, I do, Wagners career was the one ascending but on the small screen. It has always bothered Gregson Wagner that her mother is remembered more for her death than for her accomplishments in life. "48 Hours" correspondent Erin Moriarty joined CBSN with more. I sat there with Chris, and we started talking, and he started to mention to me about your motherhow wonderful she was, and what a great actress she was, and how he enjoyed working with her. "So your mother went down below to our bedroom to get ready to go to bed and I sat there with Chris. His sudden and shocking passing came just a month before the premiere of his classic 1973 film, "Enter the Dragon.". The film shows Wagner remembering his final dinner with Wood and Walken, during which Wagner says he enjoyed a few glasses of vino. Wagner and Wood had been having conversations about Woods career at that pointdebating whether she should continue acting, or step away from the screen to spend more time at home with her children. Both parties began dating again and would go on to marry other people, but they "never stopped loving each other," according to Wood. The death of comedic actor and "Saturday Night Live" star Phil Hartman stunned fans in May 1998, when he and his wife were discovered shot to death in their Los Angeles home, Topless dancer-turned-model-turned reality TV star Anna Nicole Smith died at 39 in February 2007 after being found unconscious in her Florida hotel room. All Rights Reserved. They too had a daughter, Natasha, born in 1970, but separated a year later after Wood overheard an inappropriate conversation between Gregson and his secretary, according to Natasha: The Biography of Natalie Wood by Suzanne Finstad. Did you encounter any technical issues? The couple separated in 1961 and divorced the following year with Wood remaining silent on rumors the marriage had ended suddenly because she had had an affair with her Splendor in the Grass costar Warren Beatty. When it comes to weighing the impact of Wood's death, and Wagner is deemed a suspect in a murder . Natalie Wood and daughter Natasha in Los Angeles. I was in bed then. Taylor Swift's Atlanta ticket prices are dropping big time. When People brought up Woods death in a 1986 interview, the actor responded by snapping, I dont know what happened. The couple divorced in 1971. Lana was asleep in the car when Natalie finally came back, disheveled and upset, whispering angrily at their mother. Natalie Wood's yacht captain, Dennis Davern who was on board the boat the night the actress died claimed in a new interview that her former husband Robert Wagner held him hostage to preve I was in bed then. But Woods death continues to make news almost four decades after her shocking drowning: In 2018, L.A. County investigators named Wagner as a person of interest they were seeking to speak with in connection of the ongoing investigation. RadarOnline was first to report the news. It was a terrible thing., Access unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video Sign up now for a 30-day free trial, He added: Look, were in a conversation I wont have. What has Christopher Walken said about Natalie Wood's death? Although she was just 23, the Grammy-winning artist had established an incredible legacy at the time of her death, one that her husband, British songstress Amy Winehouse was found dead in her London home in July 2011. Keep reading while we investigate Robert's relationship history. All Rights Reserved. I dont believe it was premeditated, Lana Wood said. "I remember I had a few glasses of vino and I was feeling pretty good," he recalls in the documentary to Natasha. Jay was shot and killed October 30, 2002 at a recoding studio in Queen, New York. He died from a gunshot wound to the head, which was ruled a suicide. Jonathan Majors Steps Down FromGotham Film Board. After Natalies death, according to the book, Wagner began to treat Lana with outright hostility. Robert Wagner Could Face Grand Jury Over Natalie Wood's Death: Report Many people are unsure whether Robert Wagner, an American actor who has appeared on all three stages - theatre, screen, and television - is still alive or not; the veteran actor is still alive and well. Today, he believes Natalie was killed and thrown overboard. Audiences would know Wagner from films including The True Story of Jesse James, The Pink Panther, and the Austin Powers franchise. Having known Robert since they were contract players at Fox in the 1950s, Jill sent him flowers and a note of condolence after the tragic incident. It bothers me that anyone would ever think that you would be involved in what happened to her because you would have given your life for my mom., Thats true, I would have. Wagner had also said that Natalie had probably taken the dinghy out to go party hopping, yet the actress was wearing her nightgown and slippers. Still, she was shocked in 1962 when Natalie showed up at their parents house, distraught and with a bleeding hand. Davern's description of events do not match his statements to police at the time, but have passed several polygraph tests, according to the podcast. By the time of that first fateful meeting, the daughter of poor Russian immigrants was a known and respected actress. I beg your pardon is currently in the running for a potential new catchphrase. James Dean's death is part of his legend. Lana felt that none of Wagners or Walkens words rang true to her at the time because what they had been describing about the night in question did not line up with the West Side Story stars personality. For one, Wagner had told police that his wife probably tried to take the dinghy out when she drowned, but Davern said Natalie couldnt operate the dinghy. He was 33 years old. Why Natalie Wood's Daughter Is Confronting Robert Wagner About Wood's March 11, 2020. The actor had been nominated for an Oscar for 2005's "Brokeback Mountain" and was set for another nod for "The Dark Knight" when he was found dead in his New York apartment. But to give me a quote about devils? The Reason Why Some People Believe Robert Wagner Killed Natalie Wood - MSN Here is what Wagner says happened and why Natasha doesnt think he was responsible. When Lana expressed confusion about their reunion,given that Wagner had cheated on her sister with a man,their mother glibly parroted, Hes cured of homosexual tendencies. The things that they were saying that Natalie did that the nightgown-wearing actress had taken the yachts dinghy to party hop among the boats parked in the harbor they might as well have been saying that she was trying to fly to another planet. GettyNatalie Wood and Natasha Gregson Wagner, Gregson Wagner, who is a producer of the documentary, says, Its important to me, daddy, that people think of you the way that I know that you are. We were just taking the truth and putting it into the light and it sort of empowered us I think in a way., Behold Dune: An Exclusive Look at Timothe Chalamet, Zendaya, Oscar Isaac, and More How to Watch Every Marvel Movie in Order David Simon on The Wire and His Equally Pissed-Off New Show, The Plot Against America Beyond Tiger King: 8 True-Crime Documentaries That Sparked a Second Look From the Law Downton Abbeys Julian Fellowes on His New Series and the Beauty of a Scheming Woman All the New 2020 Movies Streaming Early Because of Coronavirus From the Archive: The Notorious Rivalry of Hedda Hopper and Louella Parsons, Hollywoods Dueling Gossip Columnists. Why Did Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood Marry Twice? (At a different point in the film, Brainstorm director Douglas Trumbull addresses rumors that Wood was having an affair with Walken at the time of her deathcalling an affair impossible. As evidence, he explains that he filmed a Brainstorm sex scene between Wood and Walken, and that there was almost no sexual charisma between them at all.), Speaking about the conversation she had with her stepfather, which was filmed over the course of two days, Gregson Wagner said, I am very protective of my stepdad and I adore him. The actor is absent from the documentary and has rarely spoken about Woods death but there have been brief mentions made in the past. Their first marriage lasted from 1957 to 1962, and the Hollywood stars would go on to remarry in 1972. Later, he was unable to find his wife, searched the boat along with the captain and noticed the dinghy was missing. News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. Robert Wagner and Jill St.John's Relationship Started with - AmoMama Natalie Wood's 1981 drowning death has remained one of Hollywood's great mysteries for four decades. Why Did Natalie Wood And Robert Wagner Divorce? While Lana has been vocal about her sisters deatheven participating in the recent podcast Fatal Voyage: The Mysterious Death Of Natalie WoodWalken has largely avoided commenting upon it. Robert Wagner DID kill Natalie Wood on luxury yacht then - The Sun I made some terrible decisions and mistakes. Wagner discovered her missing around 1 a.m. and called the shore boat, then later the Coast Guard. In 2011, the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department reopened its investigation into Woods death, after Splendour captain Dennis Davern claimed he had heard Wood and Wagner arguing the night of Woods death. The relationship had run its course, says a source. Ana de Armas Shares Story About Robert De Niro and Her Dad During. Let's just stay, let's have another bottle of wine.. In a new documentary Natalie Wood: What Remains Behindpremiering May 5 on HBOGregson Wagner sits down with her stepfather, who largely raised her, to interview him about that tragic night. She slipped and fell in the water. I remember it used to drive her crazy because the way the water hit up against the boat, it would bang and she was so sensitive to noise, says Gregson Wagner. Email us attips@the-sun.co.ukor call 0207 782 4368 . Washed up on shore on Catalina [Island].. She tried not to read too much into his strange behavior. Eventually, Rowland Perkins, president of the Creative Artists Agency, called her and told her that Wagner had gotten her blacklisted in the industry. All Rights Reserved. Of course he did!. Lanawrites in her bookthat she believes Wagnerand Natalie had an alcohol-fueled argument that escalated into a physical confrontation and that Wagner delivered a blow to the left side of Natalies face that knocked her unconscious., I believe, she writes, that suddenly, panic-stricken when he realized what hed done, R.J. made the fatal decision to put Natalie in the water to avoid being held responsible for what had happened., The book speculates that Wagner sentDavern who had come up to intervene to look for the missing Natalie to give himself time to untie the dinghy. Davern said in his testimonial that Wagner did tell him not to turn the searchlights on or to call the authorities until two hours later, and Lana writes that she believes that he did this to [cover] up the fact that, in a drunken, jealous, rage-filled moment, hed ended the life of Natalie Wood.. Chris was there with me he, by the way, is a very stand-up guy, a gentleman. Other than that, I felt absolutely nothing towards him., In 1957, When they got married the first time, I cried loudly throughout the entire ceremony, Lana said. Robert Wagner Dead Or Alive: Did He Remarry After Natalie Wood Died? Did Robert Wagner Remarry After Natalie Wood Died . Robert Wagner TRAGICALLY DIED after Revealing Himself to be - YouTube She had told me she couldnt swim; in fact, they had to cut a swimming scene from Brainstorm [the film they were shooting at the time of Woods death]. The studio system played a hand in their first date, an arranged meeting in 1956 set up to garner publicity for the admired actress (she had appeared the previous year alongside James Dean in the hit Rebel Without a Cause) and the on-the-cusp supporting player. I dont believe it was premeditated, Lana, 75, told The Post. THE captain of the yacht where star Natalie Wood died says he believes her husband, Robert Wagner, is responsible, and claims he stopped search efforts. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. . Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner in 1972. We've received your submission. Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. Lana a sometime actress who was Bond girl Plenty OToolein Diamonds Are Forever had been employed behind the scenes in film production, but after her sisters death, she couldnt find any work.