Robert Wagner Reflects on 44th Anniversary of Late Wife Natalie Wood’s Passing: Always in His Heart

Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner in 1976.
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NEED TO KNOW

• Robert Wagner shared a tribute to his late wife, Natalie Wood, on the 44th anniversary of her death.
• Wagner, 95, stated that Natalie would be “forever missed” in a message posted on Instagram on November 29.
• Natalie drowned in November 1981 while on a boat trip off the coast of California at the age of 43.

Robert Wagner honored his late wife, Natalie Wood, with a heartfelt tribute on the 44th anniversary of her passing. The 95-year-old actor posted his message on Instagram on November 29, accompanied by a black-and-white photograph of the couple from the 1973 Academy Awards.

“Thinking of Nat today. Her warmth, beauty, and love remain with us through our children and grandchildren. Forever missed, forever cherished. More than love,” he wrote.

Natalie Wood tragically drowned in November 1981 during a boat trip to California’s Catalina Island. At the time, Wagner was aboard with their friend, actor Christopher Walken, now 82, and their longtime skipper, Dennis Davern.

The couple married in 1957, divorced in 1962, then remarried in 1972. They had two daughters, Courtney Brooke Wagner and Natasha Gregson Wagner, whom Robert adopted after Natalie’s death. He is also the father of Katie Wagner from a previous relationship.

Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood in 1976.
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In the aftermath of Natalie’s death, Wagner described the period as profoundly challenging. “When Natalie died, I thought my life was over,” he reflected in his 2016 memoir, *I Loved Her in the Movies: Memories of Hollywood’s Legendary Actresses*. He credited his recovery to the support of family and friends.

“I thought I would never get up, you know? My children helped me heal. And my friends were so supportive. And slowly, I was able to get up. I got on my feet, but it was very, very difficult and a sad time,” he recounted.

Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood with daughter Courtney in 1974.

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Wagner fondly remembers Natalie for her joy and fulfillment as a mother.

In a 2024 interview, Natasha Gregson Wagner discussed the enduring relevance of her mother’s legacy. “It’s just unbelievable that there’s a relevancy to her all these years later. And that people really feel that they knew her or that they feel this protectiveness toward her,” she stated.

She expressed her pride in her mother’s lasting impact: “Maybe it was all meant to be in some weird way. Maybe her ability to touch people is larger with her not being here on earth.”

As a mother herself, Natasha has found new ways to connect with her late mother, sharing memories with her daughter, Clover, now 13. “It’s just really amazing for me to help Clover understand, help myself understand, and to turn my grief into something positive,” she added.