New Memoir Reveals Allegations of Kirk Douglas Raping Natalie Wood

The excerpt released by The Associated Press discloses that the incident allegedly took place in 1955 at the Chateau Marmont, when Natalie Wood was around 16 or 17 years old, and Douglas was approximately 38 or 39 years old.

At the time, both sisters were involved in the production of the iconic John Wayne Western film “The Searchers.”

Lana Wood recollects that their mother facilitated the encounter between Natalie and Douglas with hopes of advancing her career through his connections.

She vividly recalls the aftermath of the meeting, where a distressed Natalie returned to the car in a disheveled state, prompting urgent whisperings between her and their mother.

Following the distressing incident, Natalie confided in Lana during their adulthood about the alleged rape, imploring her to keep it a secret to safeguard her professional standing.

Lana recounts her sister's poignant words, “He hurt me Lana,” revealing the depth of the trauma Natalie endured.

While Lana had previously hinted at the assault during a podcast interview in 2018 without naming the perpetrator, she now explicitly identifies Kirk Douglas as the individual responsible for the heinous act.

Suzanne Finstead's biography had earlier touched on Natalie Wood's ordeal without directly implicating Douglas.

Lana Wood's decision to expose Douglas posthumously, after his demise in February 2020 at the age of 103, stems from a desire to set the record straight.

The news of Douglas' passing reignited discussions around Natalie Wood, prompting Lana to finally break the silence in defense of her sister.

Natalie Wood, a celebrated actress with three Academy Award nominations to her name, tragically met her untimely death in 1981 off the coast of Catalina Island.

Initially classified as an accidental drowning, the official ruling was revised in 2012 by the Los Angeles Coroner's Office due to conflicting testimonies, citing “drowning and other undetermined factors.”

Despite requests for comments from Michael Douglas' representatives remaining unanswered, a statement relayed through his publicist expressed well wishes for both Natalie and Kirk, acknowledging the sensitive nature of the revelations brought to light by Lana Wood in her memoir.