Inside Robert Wagners Former Home Where He Raised 2 Kids with Late Wife He Became 'Mom and Da

Publish date: 2024-05-18

Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood, circa 1960. | Robert Wagner with his kids arrive at the 85th Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade in 2016. | Source: Getty Images

Legendary actor Robert John Wagner was born on February 10, 1930, in Detroit, Michigan. He began his career in Hollywood in the '50s and first received acclaim for "With a Song in My Heart." He went on to star in movies like "Valiant," "The Pink Panther," and "The True Story of Jesse James."

On television, Wagner headlined in "Hart to Hart," "It Takes a Thief," and several others. The actor is also known for his relationship with Hollywood darling Natalie Wood, who died in a mysterious drowning accident in 1981.

1960: American actor Robert Wagner in a promotional portrait for director Michael Anderson's film, "All the Fine Young Cannibals." | Source: Getty Images

Becoming a Hollywood Legend and Meeting Natalie Wood

Wagner originally worked as a caddy for Clark Gable, but he soon went on to find fame after being discovered by Henry Willson, a prominent talent agent. He appeared in several small roles until he landed his first major deal with 20th Century Fox.

In 1953, he won a Golden Globe for "Titanic," and then appeared in other films such as "The Longest Day" and "The War Lover." He was known for working with some of the most prominent actors of the time, like Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, and Faye Dunaway, to name a few.

Interestingly, Wagner had negotiated a deal to star in "The Affair," in which part of his salary would be coming from a 50% stake in the profits of Aaron Spelling and Leonard Goldberg's "Charlie's Angels." The case was taken to court after disagreements arose regarding his profit share.

1934: Headshot portrait of American actor Robert Wagner as a toddler | Source: Getty Images

No one was surprised when the actor started dating Natalie Wood, who had transitioned from being a child star to a teen idol in the business. At 18, she was already known as a serious actress and 20th Century Fox decided to set her up with 26-year-old Wagner as a marketing tool.

The pair had initially met when Wood was ten and Wagner was 18. In 1976, the actress told People she "turned" to her mother and said, "I'm going to marry him." When the studio needed to promote the actress, they arranged their first date, but the couple fell in love and married just a year later.

Wagner famously proposed to her by putting a pearl and diamond ring in her champagne glass. They honeymooned on a yacht in the Florida Keys as they were known to love the water. However, Wood spoke about being afraid of deep water several times.

American actor Robert Wagner and his wife, actress Natalie Wood, in 1957 | Source: Getty Images

Wagner and Wood became a power couple in Hollywood, always photographed together and admired by the public. Unfortunately, their relationship wasn't going so well. Wood explained:

"We knew each other better than we knew ourselves. I always knew he was okay. It was myself I didn't know about."

Their problems led to a divorce in 1961 after four years of marriage, and neither of them ever spoke of the rumors about Wood's affair with Warren Beatty, her co-star from "Splendor in the Grass." The actress' sister, Lana, alleged that Wood discovered Wagner with another man, and it also contributed to their breakup.

American actors Robert Wagner and his wife Natalie Wood, circa 1970 | Source: Getty Images

When they separated, the actor enrolled in therapy and often went daily. However, according to the actress, their love for each other never disappeared.

Regardless, both Wagner and Wood dated other people and even got married. Wagner wed Marion Marshall in 1963 and they had a daughter, Katie, in 1964. They separated in 1971.

Meanwhile, Wood married Richard Gregson in 1969 and they welcomed a daughter, Natasha, in 1970. However, they separated in 1972 after the actress caught Gregson saying something inappropriate to his assistant.

Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood, circa 1981, in Los Angeles, California | Source: Getty Images

Wood and Wagner married again in 1972, just a few months after they divorced their respective partners. The actress' friends warned her to slow down and not get back with her ex so quickly. However, she didn't listen. They were both sure about marrying again because their time apart had allowed them to grow.She explained:

"We talked about what had happened to our marriages. He had become a man instead of a boy."

By 1972, Wood was mostly retired from the acting industry and wanted to focus on her marriage and kids. Two years later, they welcomed Courtney and raised her and her half-siblings in a happy household.

Robert Wagner, Natalie Wood, and Baby Courtney Wagner on March 17, 1974. | Source: Getty Images

The Mysterious Death of Natalie Wood

Sadly, their second marriage to each other only lasted nine years. In 1981, the couple went on a boat trip with Christopher Walken to Catalina Island and spent a whole day drinking and partying until the late hours of the night when an alleged fight broke out.

Wagner broke a bottle because he was jealous of Walken and Wood's closeness. Wood returned to her cabin to get away from her husband. However, Wagner couldn't find her later that night on the boat.

Splendour, the boat owned by Robert Wagner, docked off Catalina Island the day after Natalie Wood drowned on November 29, 1981 in Catalina Island, California | Source: Getty Images

The actress was discovered the following day, November 29, floating on the water beside a dinghy. Authorities deemed it an accidental drowning, explaining that Wood most likely fell on the water while trying to tie the dinghy correctly. After her death, Wagner said:

"I lived a charmed life, and then I lost a beautiful woman I loved with all my heart."

Meanwhile, Walken told People he had no idea what had happened or how. "She slipped and fell in the water. I was in bed then. It was a terrible thing," he recounted,

Actor Robert Wagner leading his daughter, Courtney, age 6, as they left their Beverly Hills home on the way to the funeral services for Natalie Wood | Source: Getty Images

In a 2020 documentary about Wood produced by Natasha Gregson-Wagner, Mia Farrow said Wagner was the love of Wood's life. However, their love story would take a dark turn because of the horrible conspiracy theories surrounding the drowning, which all their daughters rebuke to this day.

Raising the Kids After Wood's Death And What Happened to Natalie's Home

After Wood's passing in 1981, the actor raised their daughters, Courtney, Katie, and Natasha, on his own. He never cared that Natasha was only his stepdaughter and treated all of them equally.

Natasha was only 11 when news of her mother's death was announced on the radio. She recalled hearing, "The body of actress Natalie Wood has been found off the coast of Catalina Island."

The young girl didn't believe it at first, but it later sunk in. She had been staying at a friend's house, and they tried calling the boat directly, but there was no response.

Natasha was later taken to their primary home in Los Angeles, where they all waited, still hoping that the news was wrong. However, when Wagner returned, she noticed his face, which was "haunted, devoid of any light," she described later. Courtney was even younger and only wondered when her mother would be back.

Several celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor and Frank Sinatra attended the funeral, where Wagner was seen cuddling Natasha close as their family grieved together.

Opening up about how her fathers raised her and her siblings following her mother's death, Natasha said:

"I think my Dad and Daddy Gregson, they were trying to pick up the pieces for us and stumble forward and find out what our life looked like after that. I was so lucky I had two dads who were deeply committed to raising me and helping me through."

Natasha explained that while she always knew she had two dads, Wagner had to be even more than just a father:

"I'm certain because my mom died, my relationship with my stepdad is way deeper than it would have been had she lived because he had to be my mom and dad."

Natasha described Wagner as much happier and carefree before Wood's death, much like "the life of the party." But everything changed after the accident. "After she died, when I would look at him from a distance, from my bedroom window, walking into the house, there was a heaviness and a sadness to him that hadn't been there before," she recalled.

A screen capture from a video of Natalie Wood & Robert Wagner's former Palm Springs estate posted on January 23, 2018 | Source: youtube.com/Access Hollywood

In 2018, Wood and Wagner's home, where they raised their kids, was listed for sale for the first time in more than four decades. After Wood's death, author Herman Wouk bought the property for almost $1 million, and he lived there while writing "Sailor and Fiddler: Reflections of a 100-Year-Old Author."

The impressive, Mediterranean-designed mansion in Palm Springs, California, was constructed in 1940 and sits atop a tiny hill. The main house has over 5000 square feet of space, comprising six bedrooms, six and a half bathrooms, a pool, and a tennis court. There are also 66 palm trees around the property.

A screen capture from a video of Natalie Wood & Robert Wagner's former Palm Springs estate posted on January 23, 2018 | Source: youtube.com/Access Hollywood

The exterior is covered in rustic stone, complimenting the interior fixtures, including carved doors, beams, iron accents, and several fireplaces. There's also a guest house with its own entrance and garage. It also includes three bedrooms and three and a half baths spanning 2000 square feet.

The property, which covers around 7,000 square feet on 1.6 acres, was listed for $2.5 million in 2018, but the new owners would have to update it if they don't like the '70s aesthetic.

Wagner and His Daughters Still Keep Wood's Memory Alive

Wood's surviving family has made it a point to keep her memory alive despite later accusations against Wagner surrounding his wife's death.

Natasha made a documentary called "Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind," which premiered on HBO in 2020. She also wrote a book called "More Than Love," and shared how her family healed after the tragedy.

A screen capture from a video of Natalie Wood & Robert Wagner's former Palm Springs estate posted on January 23, 2018 | Source: youtube.com/Access Hollywood

Meanwhile, her younger sister, Courtney, who was seven when Wood died, revealed to People that she was "furious" over the accusations against her father and how others exploited their grief. She also praised her big sister's efforts to tell the truth, explaining:

"From as far back as I can remember, my family was so happy and engaged with each other. I can remember feeling the love and happiness in the air. It radiates in all the photos, and I think that's one of the reasons Natasha wanted to share this story, to share the magic that existed between my parents."

A screen capture from a video of Natalie Wood & Robert Wagner's former Palm Springs estate posted on January 23, 2018 | Source: youtube.com/Access Hollywood

Courtney explained that Natasha did a fantastic job describing the kind of person Wood was in the film. She also said her sisters and father had bonded because of the trauma they experienced as they found "ways to move on."

While their family remained committed to preserving both Wood and Wagner's legacy, Natasha expressed her dismay at the accusations thrown against her father:

"I was furious at the accusations being said about him. It felt incredibly disrespectful especially knowing the source of where these accusations came from. It was so transparent that certain people exploited my family like this, and it makes me very protective of my father."

Unfortunately, the rumors surrounding Wood's death and the mysterious nature of it are still prominent online, with tons of conspiracy theories shared across social media, to which Courtney said:

"I love him so deeply so, and it has gone on for so long that I still can't believe they actually write such untrue things."

Courtney also talked about struggling with addiction, especially as her sisters were living their lives and having kids. "For a long time, I had no intentions to give that up for anything, but life was going on without me," she told People. "Both my sisters had children, and it was getting harder and harder to mask the shame and guilt I had because I knew it was breaking my father's heart, and that was something I could no longer do."

Therefore, she worked on herself and got better. She was grateful to participate in her sister's documentary and talked about how proud their mother would be. Natasha also had nothing but praise for her young sister, saying:

"Courtney is somebody who lives in the truth, and her recovery demands that of her. She is not ashamed of her struggles. She has gotten to a place where she has compassion for herself and forgiveness."

Meanwhile, their eldest sister, Katie, explained that their bond was "stronger than any kind of glue." She supported her father while trying to love her siblings as much as possible.

Robert Wagner with daughters and grandson arrive at the 85th annual Hollywood Christmas parade on Hollywood Boulevard on November 27, 2016. | Source: Getty Images

Like Courtney, Wood was known for struggling with mental health issues after a tough upbringing as a child star and as the daughter of an alcoholic father and a mother who allegedly wanted her 15-year-old daughter to sleep with Frank Sinatra.

According to her book, Natasha knew that Wood tried to kill herself at some point, but the mother she knew was always stable. She believed Wood had changed considerably by the time she became a mother. Natasha continued:

"I believe she had a bittersweet childhood. In a lot of ways, she loved acting and being around adults, but she missed just being a kid. I'm sure being a child star took its toll on her, but the way she made lemons into lemonade and in the same way that mothering my daughter healed me, I think that mothering Courtney and me healed my mom."

Actor Robert Wagner (R) and daughter Courtney Wagner attend the In Style party celebrating the publication of Joyce Ostin's book "A Tribute to Hollywood Dads" at Spago on May 17, 2007 in Beverly Hills, California. | Source: Getty Images

She also talked about why she started writing, explaining that she didn't want anything to be a "burden on my own daughter's shoulders." Natasha added:

"She is my mother's only grandchild, so it's important that she knows what happened. I also was ready to be public with my own grief. I didn't feel I needed to protect myself in the same way I had years ago."

While she lives with her husband and daughter, Natasha communicates with Wagner often and hopes that the book and the documentary show how loyal the entire family is to the actor. Natasha commented:

"I'm very protective of Daddy Wagner, and I know my mother would never want him to have to endure these slings and arrows. He is a wonderful man."

Although the actress died over 40 years ago, the investigation into her accidental drowning was reopened in 2011, where her cause of death was changed from "accidental drowning" to "drowning and other undetermined factors."

In 2013, an addendum was added to her autopsy report alleging that Wood had bruises on her body before entering the water. In 2018, authorities declared Wagner a "person of interest," but he was not a suspect.

Natasha has talked to her father about what happened that night, and she is entirely on his side. The timing of the reopening was terrible because she was pregnant. However, she trusted her family publicist and attorneys when they said it was all publicity for the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department.

The case is still open but has gone cold, and Wagner is no longer considered a person of interest. But Wood's death is still regarded as unsolved by many.

Meanwhile, Wagner recently celebrated his 93rd birthday and posted a video on Instagram, thanking his followers for all the love. He told his fans how much he appreciated all their birthday wishes from his home in Aspen which he shares with his wife, Jill St. John.He added that his daughters and granddaughter were there to celebrate with him as well.

"It's been a wonderful birthday for me, and you all have made it extra special, and I appreciate it so much. You're thinking of me in such a special way," he said.

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