Natalie Wood’s Alleged Assault by Kirk Douglas Haunted Her, Reveals Sister

In a memoir titled “Little Sister: My Investigation into the Mysterious Death of Natalie Wood,” Lana Wood, the sister of renowned actress Natalie Wood, has revealed the identity of the alleged perpetrator of an assault that haunted Natalie throughout her life – Kirk Douglas.

Lana clarified that she disclosed this information not to seek revenge against Douglas, but rather to provide a deeper understanding of Natalie's experiences.

After years of Hollywood rumors surrounding the assault, Lana decided to break her silence and confirm what had long been whispered in the industry.

According to Lana, their mother, Maria Zakharenko, took both sisters to the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles during the summer of 1955 while they were filming “The Searchers.”

Zakharenko instructed a teenage Natalie to meet with the powerful industry figure inside the hotel.

This incident has generated speculation for decades, and now, for the first time, someone who knew Natalie personally has named Kirk Douglas as the accused.

Lana recounts a conversation with Natalie years later, where she revealed that Douglas had ushered her into his suite.

Natalie became visibly emotional and tearful as she disclosed that Douglas had hurt her.

At the time of the alleged assault, Douglas was in his late 30s and married to Anne Buydens.

Lana vividly remembers waiting in the car outside the Chateau Marmont with their mother, witnessing Natalie's distress upon her return.

Natalie appeared disheveled, upset, and Lana recalls that she and their mom engaged in urgent whispered conversations.

When discussing the incident as adults, Natalie described it as an “out-of-body experience” that left her terrified and confused.

However, she never explicitly used the terms “raped” or “molested.”

Lana estimates that Natalie was 15 years old at the time, while she herself was only 7.

However, there is a discrepancy regarding the timeframe, as Natalie would have been either 16 or 17 during the summer of 1955, and Lana would have been 9.

In response to questions about this discrepancy, Harper Collins, the publisher of “Little Sister,” stated that the book reflects present-day recollections of events that occurred over six decades ago.

Lana reveals that after Natalie confided in her about the assault later in life, she swore Lana to secrecy.

However, with the passing of both Natalie and Douglas, Lana felt compelled to share the truth, believing her sister would understand.

She acknowledges that this experience deeply affected Natalie throughout her life.

Lana had no reservations about including this story in her memoir, as inaccurate versions of it had circulated for years.

Lana had previously refrained from naming the perpetrator but was bombarded by press requests to confirm the rumor following Douglas' death in 2020.

Out of respect for his family, Lana chose not to comment at the time.

Lana emphasizes that her intention was not to seek vengeance against Douglas but rather to shed light on the challenges Natalie faced.

She believes that sharing the details of Natalie's life will ensure her memory lives on, not just as a movie star, but as a complex and resilient individual.