When I was growing up, Natalie Wood was my favorite actress. Never mind that the films she starred in were made decades before I was born - I loved her. From the first time I saw Splendor in the Grass, she was my idol, the actress I wanted to BE when I grew up.
Then, in November of 1981, when I was a tween, Natalie Wood died tragically. At the time, questions were raised about the circumstances surrounding her death. As a child, I really couldn't process any of that. I just knew I was terribly sad to lose Natalie. Flash forward 30 years and wow, the case is reopened?! Apparently there's new information in the case, enough that police felt the need to take a closer look.

And here we go. Both Wood's husband, Robert Wagner, and actor Christopher Walken were on the boat the night Natalie Wood drowned off Santa Catalina Island, California. Everyone was drinking, Wagner and Walken were arguing, and Natalie suddenly went missing. Reports have said that Natalie went on deck to secure a loose dinghy and slipped, falling into the frigid waters and drowning. Is that really how it happened? The boat's captain, Dennis Davern, now says he "lied for Wagner" about accounts of what happened that night. Is this a case of foul play? Robert Wagner's been told he isn't a suspect, by the way.
Hopefully the LAPD will conduct a thorough investigation and figure out, once and for all, what happened to Natalie Wood. She remains, three decades later, one of my all-time favorite actresses. In fact, this weekend I'm re-watching Splendor, Rebel Without a Cause, West Side Story and heck, I might even pull out my copy of Miracle on 34th Street too. Rest in Peace, Natalie. We all hope that the mystery surrounding your untimely death is finally solved.