More than four decades after her death at 43, the passing of actress Natalie Wood continues to be the subject of documentaries and endless theories. Originally ruled an accidental drowning, her official cause of death was later changed to “drowning and other undetermined factors.” As a result, the circumstances surrounding her death have remained a frequent topic of discussion, often sharing the spotlight with the career that made her one of Hollywood’s most recognizable stars.
Of course, most fans know Wood as Judy opposite James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause, as Maria in West Side Story, and as Deanie in Splendor in the Grass. By the time Rebel Without a Cause arrived in theaters, Wood had already been acting for more than a decade. TCM is putting several of those early performances back in the spotlight during its Summer Under the Stars programming in August. Her performance as Susan Walker in Miracle on 34th Street remains one of the most famous child roles in movie history. Still, she gave many other powerful performances as a young actor that viewers may not remember as well.
