For years, actor Robert Wagner has fought rumors
that he had something to do with the 1981 death of his wife,
the Hollywood legend Natalie Wood.
Now he's opening up as never before
in an interview with his own stepdaughter.
I am Natasha Gregson Wagner and my mom was Natalie Wood.
It's an extraordinary TV moment.
How does it make you feel
when they call you a person of interest?
I don't pay very much attention to it, Natasha,
because they're not gonna redefine me.
Natalie Wood was a movie icon.
The former child star from "Miracle on 34th Street."
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Who went on to star in "West Side Story"
and many other great roles.
The world mourned her drowning at age 43
off the coast of Catalina Island in California
following a night of drinking on board her yacht.
Natasha was just 11 years old when her mother died
and now in the HBO documentary,
"Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind,"
she questions Wagner for details about that terrible night
and the violent outburst he acknowledges happened
between him and their guest, actor Christopher Walken.
He's telling me what she should do and how she should be.
I said, "Why don't you just,"
you know, "Don't tell her what to do
and stay out of our life," and I picked up the bottle
and smashed it on the table and,
you know, I was really angry.
Natasha does not claim to be an impartial reporter.
It's important to me, daddy, that people think of you
the way that I know that you are and it bothers me
that anyone would ever think
that you would be involved in what happened to her.
Because you would've given your life for my mom.
And that's true, I would've.
But questions remain.
The LA Sheriff's Department announced in 2018
that it had reopened the investigation
into Natalie Wood's death.
He's a person of interest.
He was there with her,
last person with her before she ends up dead.
Suzanne Finstad wrote
"Natalie Wood: The Complete Biography,"
which was just re-released with new revelations.
She's convinced foul play was involved.
The lead investigator, Detective Fernandez,
has said that her bruises are consistent
with someone who was beaten.
But Natalie's daughter makes clear
she thinks it was a tragic accident.
The documentary ends with a lovely montage
of Natalie Wood home movies
showing she was not only a great star, but a beautiful soul.
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