Robert Wagner Honors Natalie Wood on the 68th Anniversary of Their First Wedding

Robert Wagner Honors Natalie Wood on Anniversary of Their First Wedding

On December 28, 2025, Robert Wagner honored his late wife, Natalie Wood, by posting a heartfelt message to commemorate the 68th anniversary of their first wedding. The couple was married from 1957 until their divorce in 1962 and remarried in 1972. They remained together until Wood’s tragic death in 1981.

Wagner, now 95 years old, posted to his Instagram account alongside a photo from the wedding day with a touching message: “Remembering this special day 68 years ago, when Natalie and I said ‘I do.’ Happy Anniversary, Nat. More than love!”

The Tragic End of Their Marriage

Natalie Wood’s death remains shrouded in mystery to this day. She drowned off the coast of California on November 29, 1981, after taking part in a boat trip with her costar Christopher Walken and their longtime skipper, Dennis Davern. The incident was originally ruled an “accidental drowning,” but in 2011, Davern claimed that Wagner and Wood had been fighting before her death, leading to the case being reopened.

In May 2022, Robert Wagner was cleared of any involvement by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. However, his name remains associated with the tragic event in public memory and discourse surrounding Natalie Wood’s untimely passing.

A Lifelong Commitment

Despite their divorce, Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood maintained a relationship until her death. They welcomed daughter Courtney two years after remarrying in 1972. After Wood’s death, Wagner became the guardian of Natasha Gregson, Wood’s daughter with producer Richard Gregson, to ensure she could be raised alongside her sister Courtney as well as Katie, Wagner’s daughter with his second wife, Marion Marshall.

Wagner has also honored Wood on other significant dates in recent years. On November 29, the 44th anniversary of her death, he wrote, “Thinking of Nat today,” expressing his deep love and enduring memories of their time together.

In Depth: The Legacy of Natalie Wood

Natalie Wood would have been 85 years old in 2025. Her life and untimely death continue to captivate the public’s imagination, as seen through documentaries like “Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind” and her daughter Natasha Gregson Wagner’s memoir, “More Than Love.”

Natasha Gregson opened up about asking her father about Natalie’s death in an interview with Good Morning America. She said, “It was, you know, my heart was beating a bit, because obviously he and I have spoken about that but never on camera.” Natasha added, “He regrets that she died,” referring to Robert Wagner’s feelings towards his wife’s passing.

Wagner himself addressed the topic in his 2016 memoir, “I Loved Her in the Movies: Memories of Hollywood’s Legendary Actresses,” where he wrote about how Natalie Wood’s death deeply impacted his life. He credited his children and friends for helping him through this difficult period.

The enduring relationship between Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood continues to be a subject of fascination and analysis, both in entertainment circles and among the general public.