Natalie Wood’s Sister Reveals Kirk Douglas as Alleged Assailant in Memoir

Hollywood has long been plagued by rumors of a dark secret involving Natalie Wood, who was allegedly s**ually assaulted by a much older movie star when she was just a teenager.

Now, in a memoir set to be released next week, Wood's younger sister, Lana Wood, identifies the suspected assailant as Kirk Douglas.

Lana recalls the night of the incident in her book, titled Little Sister.

She describes dropping off Natalie at the entrance of the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles, noting that her sister looked exceptionally beautiful.

Lana alleges that the assault took place in the summer of 1955, around the time Natalie was filming The Searchers.

According to Lana, their mother, Maria Zakharenko, had arranged the meeting with Douglas, believing that he could open doors for Natalie in the industry.

However, when Natalie returned to the car later that night, she appeared disheveled and visibly upset.

Lana was too young to fully grasp what had happened, but she sensed that something terrible had occurred.

It wasn't until they were both adults that Natalie confided in Lana about the assault.

Lana recalls her sister saying, “And, uh… he hurt me Lana.”

She vividly remembers feeling terrified and confused upon hearing this revelation.

In her memoir, Lana reveals that Natalie and their mother decided not to publicly accuse Douglas, fearing it would ruin Natalie's career.

Their mother's advice was to “suck it up,” as detailed in Little Sister.

The memoir primarily focuses on Natalie Wood's tragic death in 1981 when her body was found off Catalina Island in California.

Initially ruled as an accidental drowning, the circumstances surrounding Natalie's death have come under scrutiny over the years, with new witnesses emerging.

Natalie's husband at the time, Robert Wagner, has been labeled a person of interest in the case, and Lana holds him responsible for her sister's death.

Although Lana promised Natalie not to discuss the assault by Douglas, rumors persisted.

When Douglas passed away in 2020 at the age of 103, his name trended on social media alongside Natalie Wood's.

Lana believes that enough has changed since her conversation with Natalie that she can finally share the complete story.

Douglas's son, actor Michael Douglas, released a statement through his publicist, expressing his desire for both parties to rest in peace.

Kirk Douglas, who was in his late 30s at the time of the alleged assault, was renowned for his roles in films like Spartacus, The Bad and the Beautiful, and Gunfight at the O.K.

Corral.

Apart from his acting career, Douglas was one of the first leading actors to establish his own production company.

He was also a prominent liberal activist who played a crucial role in breaking the cold war blacklist against suspected communists.

Douglas and his second wife, Anne, co-founded the Douglas Foundation in 1964, which aimed to assist those in need.

In recognition of his contributions, Douglas received numerous accolades, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1981 and the Legion of Honor from France in 1985.

He was also honored with an honorary Oscar in 1996, with the film academy commending him as “a creative and moral force.”

Douglas himself admitted to being a womanizer and unfaithful husband.

In an interview with the Associated Press in December 2016, just before the #MeToo movement gained momentum, Neile Adams, an actor and dancer, jokingly remarked about Douglas's tendency to be handsy.

In his memoir, The Ragman's Son, published in 1988, Douglas briefly mentions Natalie Wood.

He recalls a chance encounter when a young girl wearing a suede jacket approached him for an autograph.

The girl turned out to be Natalie Wood, whom he saw several times afterward before her untimely death.

Lana Wood's decision to reveal the alleged assault in her memoir comes after years of speculation and whispers within Hollywood circles.

With no one left to protect, Lana believes it is time to share her sister's story openly, hoping for understanding and closure.