“My mother no longer has a voice of her own, but I do, and this is what I know to be true. My mother was not a tragic, doomed person. She was vibrant. Her life was devoted to her art, her children, her husband, and her heart. This is how she would want to be remembered, not as someone who is defined by her death, but by her life.”

That’s how Natasha Gregson Wagner summarizes her mother, Natalie Wood, in her memoir, “More than Love.” This book will be a disappointment to the conspiracy theorists, backyard gossips, and supermarket tabloids — all whom have tried make Natalie’s 1981 death into a murder that came from a love triangle among Wood, husband Robert Wagner, and actor Christopher Walken. Natasha sets it straight, logically, exonerating her stepfather — whom she alternately calls “RJ” and “Daddy Wagner.” I’ve always agreed with this, and it’s about time the lie is put to bed forever.

Natasha’s book is such an engaging memoir about her own life, growing up famous, her parents before Natalie’s death, and how she coped with it, you can’t put it down. But she has to address the drowning incident that killed Natalie, and how the gossip turned into white noise for the rest of her life.

One person Natasha cites from that night on the Splendour is Dennis Davern, the deckhand on the boat who’s gone on to cash in on his own “memories” decade after decade with the tabloids.

Natasha writes: “He says he was afraid of my dad after my mother died, and that my father was holding him hostage at our house. That’s why he didn’t tell the police at the time. I was living in that same house then and I think I would have noticed if Dennis was being held in my home against his will. More importantly, I would have noticed if my dad was the kind of man to hold another man against his will in the first place! I have known Robert Wagner since before I was two years old. Abusive men leave traces as they move through their lives. Where is the history of my dad’s abuse? There is none. Why would my dad suddenly become secretly abusive and threatening toward his wife and others in 1981, at age fifty-one?”

Well, he didn’t. I interviewed Robert Wagner around the year 2000. We had lunch together at the Plaza Athenee in New York. I didn’t hesitate to ask about the night Natalie Wood died, and he was as forthcoming as ever. Despite a long, happy marriage to Jill St. John (whom Natasha writes about lovingly in the book), Wagner keeps a torch for Natalie.

No one in my world questioned my dad’s love for my mom or his utter despair at her loss. Everyone in our lives wrapped their arms around him. R.J. had loved Natalie “more than love.” When it came time to choose the inscription on her gravestone, my dad made sure to add those three words, the same phrase my parents had always used to describe their love for each other. He asked if Courtney and I wanted it to say anything else. We told him we liked it just the way it was.”

So much great stuff here. We have to thank Natasha for sitting down and writing this book. Buy it. You won’t be disappointed!

UPDATE: November 6, 2021

Natasha Wagner knew her mother pretty well. She doesn’t mention anything about movie star Kirk Douglas attacking her mother as a young woman. But she does make some pretty keen observations about her aunt Lana Wood, about to try and cash in one more time with a new book abotu Batalie Wood.

MAY 5, 2020: Natalie Wood’s sister, Lana, has made a professional career out of dogging Robert Wagner about Natalie’s death for 40 years. She’s gone to every tabloid, several times, to sell stories. She’s pestered the police to go after Wagner even when there was no evidence that he was responsible for her death in 1981.

Now Natalie’s daughter, Natasha Gregson Wagner, writes about Aunt Lana in her memoir, called “More than Love.” I’m knee deep in this fascinating book which is already a best seller. Remember, Natasha is not RJ Wagner’s daughter. Natalie, in between marriages to Wagner, married Richard Gregson for three years, and had Natasha. Gregson died last summer at age 89. Wagner, stepfather, has considered her a daughter since birth.

Natasha writes of Lana:

“At some point it became clear that my aunt Lana, her daughter Evan, and their eight cats had moved into Baba’s condo. After my mom died, Lana had continued to write to my dad asking him for money and loans. While my father felt an obligation to support Baba, he didn’t see why he should support Lana too, so he told her no.

“As soon as I turned eighteen, Lana began writing to me as well. My father advised Courtney and me to refuse these requests. In our family’s opinion, it didn’t seem to matter how much money we gave Lana; it would never be enough. After Lana moved into the condo, Baba would complain to me that her daughter and Evie needed money, which was why she turned over her Social Security checks to them every month. They had taken over the master bedroom. Baba was now in the small second bedroom.

“Soon, neighbors began complaining that a putrid smell was emanating from the apartment. When Liz went to investigate, she found dirty plates piled up in the sink, trash that had not been taken out for weeks, and cats and cat feces everywhere. We moved Baba out of the condo and into a one-bedroom apartment on Barrington and Wilshire in West Los Angeles. Our attorney sent a letter to Lana telling her to vacate the condo within thirty days. It took another three months to clean and disinfect the place and make it habitable.”

As for Aunt Lana’s assertions over the years that Wagner somehow killed Natalie, Natasha writes:

In 1984, she published a book about my mother. Around the same time, Lana did a TV interview where she was asked if she thought there was anything mysterious about my mother’s death. Lana replied, “Absolutely not!” Why didn’t she accuse my dad then? Why did she wait more than twenty-five years to “speak her truth”?”

The family of actor Joey Pantoliano thanked local rescuers in Wilton, Connecticut for saving the actor’s life last week. Joey, the popular star of “The Sopranos” and movies like “Risky Business” and “Bound,” was walking in the leafy suburb when one car T-boned another and smashed into him! (This is why I like to stay in the city, where you’re safe.) In an earlier post they said “Joey is home recovering. He has a severe head injury and some chest trauma.” Looking at this new picture, the scene looks like Joey was lucky — and we were, too. Sending him the best get well wishes.

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Hi Instagram family. We all want to thank you for the outpour of well wishes & love for our dad Joey. Please keep you prays coming. The Pantoliano’s want to thank Wilton police & fire EMT and Norwalk hospital trauma unit for saving our Dad’s life❤️🙏🏼🙏🏼

A post shared by Joe Pantoliano (@realjoeypants) on May 5, 2020 at 3:28am PDT

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Joey is home recovering. He has a severe head injury and some chest trauma. He is going to be dark on social media for a couple days while recovering. Thank you for all the well wishes and positive vibes. Keep them coming! We'll be reading them to him to help him get better!

A post shared by Joe Pantoliano (@realjoeypants) on May 1, 2020 at 6:51pm PDT