Actor
Natalie Wood
Born 20 July 1938 · San Francisco, California, USA — died 29 November 1981
Natalie Wood (1938–1981) was an American actress who moved from child stardom to leading roles as an adult. She is best known for Rebel Without a Cause, The Searchers, West Side Story and Splendor in the Grass. Her career spanned Hollywood's shift from the studio era to more modern, adult stories.
Key films
Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
Her breakout child role, which made her a recognisable young star.
Rebel Without a Cause (1955)
Her teen role earned an Oscar nomination and marked her move to grown-up parts.
The Searchers (1956)On Cinespective
A key supporting role in John Ford's Western, now regarded as a landmark of the genre.
West Side Story (1961)
She played Maria in the celebrated film musical, one of her most famous roles.
Splendor in the Grass (1961)
A showpiece dramatic lead that brought her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.
Key awards
- 1956 Academy Award nomination, Best Supporting Actress (Rebel Without a Cause)
- 1962 Academy Award nomination, Best Actress (Splendor in the Grass)
- 1964 Academy Award nomination, Best Actress (Love with the Proper Stranger)
- 1980 Golden Globe Award for her role in the TV miniseries From Here to Eternity
On Cinespective
Full filmography · 88
- 1943The Moon Is Down · as Carrie (uncredited)Actor
- 1943Happy Land · as Little Girl Dropping Ice Cream Cone (uncredited)Actor
- 1946Tomorrow Is Forever · as Margaret LudwigActor
- 1946The Bride Wore Boots · as Carol WarrenActor
- 1947Miracle on 34th Street · as Susan WalkerActor
- 1947The Ghost and Mrs. Muir · as Anna Muir as a ChildActor
- 1947Driftwood · as Jenny HollingsworthActor
- 1948Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay! · as Eufraznee 'Bean' McGillActor
- 1949The Green Promise · as Susan MatthewsActor
- 1949Chicken Every Sunday · as Ruth HefferenActor
- 1949Father Was a Fullback · as Ellen CooperActor
- 1950The Jackpot · as Phyllis LawrenceActor
- 1950Our Very Own · as Penny MacaulayActor
- 1950Never a Dull Moment · as Nan HaywardActor
- 1950No Sad Songs for Me · as Polly ScottActor
- 1951The Blue Veil · as Stephanie RawlinsActor
- 1951Dear Brat · as Pauline BaxterActor
- 1952The Star · as GretchenActor
- 1952Just for You · as Barbara BlakeActor
- 1952The Rose Bowl Story · as Sally BurkeActor
- 1954The Silver Chalice · as Helena as a GirlActor
- 1954Sherwood Anderson's I'm A Fool · as LucyActor
- 1954Return of the Dead · as Renee MarchandActor
- 1954Playmates · as MonicaActor
- 1955Rebel Without a Cause · as JudyActor
- 1955One Desire · as Seely DowderActor
- 1955Feathertop · as Polly GookinActor
- 1955Heidi · as Klara SessemanActor
- 1955Too Old for Dolls · as Polly RamsayActor
- 1955The Wild Bunch · as LouiseActor
- 1956The Searchers · as Debbie EdwardsActor
- 1956The Burning Hills · as Maria-Christina ColtonActor
- 1956A Cry in the Night · as ElizabethActor
- 1956The Girl He Left Behind · as Susan DanielsActor
- 1956New York Premiere Telecast 'Giant' · as SelfActor
- 1956The Deadly Riddle · as Lady MarianActor
- 1957The James Dean Story · as SelfActor
- 1957Bombers B-52 · as Lois BrennanActor
- 1958Kings Go Forth · as Monique BlairActor
- 1958Marjorie Morningstar · as Marjorie MorgensternActor
- 1960Cash McCall · as Lory AustenActor
- 1960All the Fine Young Cannibals · as Sarah "Salome" DavisActor
- 1961West Side Story · as MariaActor
- 1961Splendor in the Grass · as Wilma "Deanie" LoomisActor
- 1962Gypsy · as Louise Hovick/Gypsy Rose LeeActor
- 1963Love with the Proper Stranger · as Angie RossiniActor
- 1964Sex and the Single Girl · as Helen Gurley BrownActor
- 1965The Great Race · as Maggie DuboisActor
- 1966This Property Is Condemned · as Alva StarrActor
- 1966Inside Daisy Clover · as Daisy CloverActor
- 1966Penelope · as PenelopeActor
- 1969Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice · as Carol SandersActor
- 1972The Candidate · as Natalie WoodActor
- 1973The Affair · as Courtney PattersonActor
- 1974James Dean Remembered · as SelfActor
- 1975Peeper · as Ellen PrendergastActor
- 1975I'm a Stranger Here Myself · as SelfActor
- 1975James Dean: The First American Teenager · as SelfActor
- 1976Cat on a Hot Tin Roof · as MargaretActor
- 1979Meteor · as Tatiana DonskayaActor
- 1979Hart to Hart · as Movie StarActor
- 1979The Cracker Factory · as Cassie BarrettActor
- 1980The Last Married Couple in America · as Mari ThompsonActor
- 1980Willie & Phil · as HerselfActor
- 1980The Memory of Eva Ryker · as Eva Ryker / Claire RykerActor
- 1982Natalie - A Tribute to a Very Special Lady · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 1982Hollywood’s Children · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 1983Brainstorm · as Karen BraceActor
- 1988Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC · as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)Actor
- 1990Death In Hollywood · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 1990Hollywood Heaven: Tragic Lives, Tragic Deaths · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 1996Rediscovering a Rebel · as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)Actor
- 2005James Dean: Forever Young · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2005How Real is 'The Star'? · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2005Rebel Without a Cause: Defiant Innocents · as Self (uncredited)Actor
- 2008Dominick Dunne: After the Party · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2009Glanz und Elend in Hollywood: Natalie Wood · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2009Hollywood Singing & Dancing: A Musical History - 1960's · as (archive footage)Actor
- 2010Brunes et Blondes · as SelfActor
- 2015Tab Hunter Confidential · as Self (archive)Actor
- 2017The Fabulous Allan Carr · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2018Howard · as Maria (archive footage)Actor
- 2018Trumbull Land · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2018Hollywood: No Sex, Please!Actor
- 2018Natalie Wood: An American Murder MysteryActor
- 2020Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2023Paul Newman: The Restless · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2026Proust Palimpsesto: Pastiches e Misturas · as Debbie Edwards - Age 15 (archive footage) (uncredited)Actor
Filmography data from TMDB. The profile text is a draft written for Cinespective.