The tragic drowning of actress Natalie Wood in 1981 may have been worsened by the heavy parka she was wearing, according to Dr. Thomas Noguchi, a renowned “Coroner to the Stars.” In Anne Soon Choi’s biography L.A. Coroner: Thomas Noguchi and Death in Hollywood, it’s suggested that Wood “might have lived” if she had removed the waterlogged jacket.
The Splendor in the Grass star drowned during Thanksgiving weekend 1981 after falling from a yacht near Catalina Island. Her husband, actor Robert Wagner, now 94, remains a person of interest in the case.
Dr. Noguchi, who performed Wood’s autopsy, noted she was wearing a flannel nightgown, wool socks, and a red parka. Upon closer inspection, he discovered the parka weighed 30 to 40 pounds when soaked. According to Choi, Dr. Noguchi concluded that the sodden jacket significantly contributed to her drowning, speculating that “if she had just taken off the jacket, she might have survived.”
The autopsy also revealed bruises on Wood’s right arm, legs, and an abrasion on her left cheek. Her clothes remained soaked over 24 hours after her death, leading Noguchi to believe the weight of the parka pulled her back down as she tried to climb into the dinghy.
Despite this theory, questions persisted about why Wood couldn’t swim back to the yacht, which was a short distance away. Toxicology reports indicated a blood alcohol level of .12, prompting Noguchi to conclude that alcohol played a significant role in her death.
Dr. Noguchi also speculated that Wood might have been attempting to escape her husband, as he was informed of an argument between Wagner and actor Christopher Walken, who was also on the yacht. According to Choi, Wagner admitted to shouting at Walken during a heated exchange about Wood’s career, even smashing a wine bottle in anger.
Wood’s sister, Lana, has highlighted Natalie’s lifelong fear of water and inability to swim, asserting that she would never have willingly entered the water. While the official coroner’s report listed her cause of death as drowning, the circumstances surrounding how she ended up in the water remain unresolved.
The mystery surrounding Natalie Wood’s death continues to captivate public interest, with unanswered questions fueling speculation about what truly happened that fateful night.
