Robert Wagner Remembers Late Wife Natalie Wood on 44th Anniversary of Her Death: ‘Forever Missed’

Robert Wagner is honoring the memory of his late wife, Natalie Wood, more than four decades after her death.

On Saturday, Nov. 29, the 95-year-old actor shared a tribute on his official Instagram, posting a black-and-white throwback photo of the couple at the 1973 Academy Awards along with a loving message.

“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 died in November 1981 at age 43 after drowning during a boat trip near California’s Catalina Island. On board that night were Robert, their friend and fellow actor Christopher Walken, now 82, and the couple’s longtime skipper, Dennis Davern.

Robert and Natalie married in 1957, divorced in 1962, and later rekindled their relationship, marrying again in 1972. They went on to build a blended family, sharing daughters Courtney Brooke Wagner and Natasha Gregson Wagner. After Natalie’s death, Robert adopted Natasha, who was from Natalie’s earlier marriage. He is also father to Katie Wagner from a previous relationship.

In the months after losing Natalie, Robert later wrote that he struggled to move forward.

“When Natalie died, I thought my life was over,” he recalled in his 2016 memoir, I Loved Her in the Movies: Memories of Hollywood’s Legendary Actresses. “Luckily, I had the help of a great many people who loved her and who loved me as well.”

Reflecting on that period, he added, “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.”

Robert has said that what he holds most dearly is the memory of Natalie as a devoted, joy-filled mother.

In a 2024 interview, Natalie’s eldest daughter, Natasha, spoke about how much her mother still resonates with people, decades after her passing.

“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,” said Natasha, who was 11 when her mother died.

She went on to reflect on the lasting impact of her mom’s legacy.

“I’m proud of her that she was able to have that impact on people. 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,” she said.

Natasha also shared that becoming a parent herself — to her daughter, Clover, now 13 — has deepened her connection to Natalie. Raising Clover has inspired her to share more stories and memories about her late mother.

“It’s just really amazing for me to help Clover understand, help myself understand, and to turn my grief into something positive,” she said.