For more than four decades, the name Robert Wagner has been inseparable from one of Hollywood’s most haunting mysteries. The suave star of Hart to Hart and the Austin Powers films built a career on charm, but the 1981 drowning of his wife, Natalie Wood, has cast a long shadow over his legacy. This article examines the accusations, Wagner’s public statements, and where the case stands today.

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Age: 94 (as of 2024) ·
Career Span: Over 70 years ·
Marriages: 3 (including Natalie Wood twice) ·
Children: 1 daughter ·
Estimated Net Worth: $12 million ·
Notable TV Series: It Takes a Thief, Switch, Two and a Half Men

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Natalie Wood died by drowning on November 29, 1981 (CBS News)
  • Wagner was never charged with any crime (People)
  • Case was reopened in 2011 and Wagner named a person of interest in 2018 (CBS News)
  • Wagner was cleared of involvement in May 2022 (People)
2What’s unclear
  • Exact circumstances leading to Wood’s drowning
  • Wagner’s exact role or knowledge that night
  • Alcohol consumption timeline among those on the boat
3Timeline signal
  • 1981: Wood drowns; ruled accident
  • 2011: Case reopened by L.A. Sheriff’s Department
  • 2018: Wagner named person of interest
  • 2022: Wagner cleared of involvement
4What’s next
  • Case remains open but at a standstill without new evidence
  • Wagner, now 95, has not spoken to investigators since 2018
  • No further investigation expected unless new tips emerge

The pattern is clear: six decades of Hollywood glamour shadowed by an unresolved tragedy.

Label Value
Full Name Robert John Wagner Jr.
Birth Date February 10, 1930
Birth Place Detroit, Michigan, USA
Spouse(s) Natalie Wood (1957-1962, 1972-1981), Jill St. John (1990-present)
Children Katie Wagner (with Marion Marshall)
Notable Works Hart to Hart, It Takes a Thief, Austin Powers series

What was Robert Wagner accused of?

Robert Wagner has never been charged with a crime related to the death of his wife, Natalie Wood. But for decades, public speculation and investigative scrutiny have placed him at the center of the mystery. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department reopened the case in 2011, and in February 2018, investigators publicly named Wagner a person of interest (CBS News).

Were charges ever filed?

  • No criminal charges have ever been filed against Robert Wagner in connection with Natalie Wood’s death.
  • In May 2022, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department cleared Wagner of involvement (People).
  • The case remains open and unsolved, but no further action is expected without new evidence.

What was the official outcome?

Investigators said in 2018 that they had not been able to prove Wood’s death was a homicide or an accident (CBS News). The sheriff’s messaging at the time suggested the case was at the end of the investigation or at a standstill absent new tips (Los Angeles Times).

Bottom line: Robert Wagner was never charged, was cleared in 2022, but the case remains open. For the public, the lack of closure means the story continues to generate headlines. For Wagner, it means a permanent asterisk on a seven-decade career.

What did Robert Wagner say about Natalie Wood’s death?

Wagner has given few interviews about the night of November 29, 1981, and his statements have shifted over the decades. In a 2011 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he said simply: “I will not talk about it.” That silence has fueled as much speculation as any detail from the case file.

What did Christopher Walken say about Natalie Wood’s death?

Christopher Walken, who was on the yacht Splendour the night Wood died, told detectives in 1981: “I don’t know what happened.” Walken, who had been working with Wood on the film Brainstorm, has rarely elaborated publicly. His brief statement to investigators remains one of the few firsthand accounts from that night.

What did Wagner’s autobiography reveal?

In his 2008 memoir Pieces of My Heart, Wagner wrote about his relationship with Wood but offered few new details about the night of her death. He maintained his innocence and described the event as a tragic accident. The book did not satisfy those seeking answers, and critics noted the absence of any substantive account of the hours leading up to Wood’s drowning.

The paradox

Robert Wagner’s silence on the details of that night — combined with his public insistence on innocence — creates a vacuum that speculation fills. For the public, the lack of a full account means the story remains unresolved. For Wagner, it means the question follows him everywhere.

What happened to actor Robert Wagner?

Robert Wagner is still alive as of 2025. Born on February 10, 1930, he turned 95 in 2025 (Remind Magazine). He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Jill St. John, whom he married in 1990.

Is Robert Wagner still alive?

  • Yes. Wagner is alive and resides in Los Angeles.
  • He turned 95 in February 2025.
  • He has made few public appearances in recent years.

What is Robert Wagner’s health like today?

Wagner has not publicly disclosed any major health issues. At 95, he is described in a 2025 entertainment feature as still regarded as one of television and film’s enduring stars (Remind Magazine). He has not been active in new film or television projects in recent years.

What to watch

For fans of classic Hollywood, Wagner’s legacy is secure — he starred in iconic series like Hart to Hart and It Takes a Thief. But for those following the Natalie Wood case, the question remains: will there ever be a definitive answer?

Why did Natalie Wood leave Robert Wagner?

Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner had one of Hollywood’s most famous on-again, off-again relationships. They married in 1957, divorced in 1962, and remarried in 1972. The reasons for their first split are not fully documented, but reports at the time cited Wagner’s busy career and Wood’s desire for independence.

When did they divorce?

  • First marriage: 1957 to 1962.
  • Remarriage: 1972.
  • Wood died in 1981 while still married to Wagner.

What were the reasons? Did they reunite?

The couple’s first divorce was attributed to the pressures of Hollywood life and conflicting schedules. They reunited a decade later, remarrying in 1972. Friends described the second marriage as more stable, though Wood reportedly had reservations about returning to the relationship. The couple remained married until Wood’s death.

Bottom line: The Wagner-Wood relationship was a Hollywood cycle of separation and reunion. For fans, it’s a love story with a tragic end. For investigators, the marriage’s dynamics remain a point of interest.

How is Robert Wagner doing today?

At 95, Robert Wagner lives a quiet life in Los Angeles. He has not taken on new acting roles in recent years, and his public appearances are rare. A 2025 entertainment feature described him as still regarded as one of television and film’s enduring stars (Remind Magazine).

What is Robert Wagner doing now?

  • Wagner is retired from active acting.
  • He has not taken on new film or TV roles in recent years.
  • He lives with his wife, Jill St. John, in Los Angeles.

Is he still acting?

Wagner’s last major acting role was a recurring part on Two and a Half Men, which ended in 2015. He has not appeared in new projects since then. His estimated net worth is commonly reported at $12 million, though entertainment estimates vary between $12 million and $20 million (Celebrity Net Worth).

The trade-off

For Wagner, a long and successful career is permanently linked to a single night in 1981. For the public, the lack of a definitive answer means the story will not fade. The trade-off: Wagner’s privacy versus the public’s demand for closure.

Timeline: Robert Wagner’s life and the Natalie Wood case

  • February 10, 1930: Born in Detroit, Michigan.
  • 1950s: Began acting career.
  • 1957: Married Natalie Wood.
  • 1962: Divorced Natalie Wood.
  • 1972: Remarried Natalie Wood.
  • 1981: Natalie Wood dies by drowning; investigation begins.
  • 2008: Published memoir Pieces of My Heart.
  • 2011: Case reopened by L.A. Sheriff’s Department.
  • 2018: Wagner named person of interest; case treated as suspicious death.
  • 2022: Wagner cleared of involvement; case remains open.
  • 2024-2025: Wagner still alive, rarely comments on the case.
The upshot

The timeline shows a pattern: official interest in Wagner has come and gone, but the public’s fascination has never faded. For Wagner, the consequence is a legacy forever tied to a question mark.

Clarity: What we know and what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Natalie Wood died by drowning on November 29, 1981.
  • Wagner was never charged with any crime.
  • Wagner gave multiple interviews about the event, though he declined to speak with investigators in 2018.
  • Wagner was cleared of involvement in May 2022.

What’s unclear

  • Exact circumstances leading to Wood’s drowning.
  • Wagner’s exact role or knowledge that night.
  • Alcohol consumption timeline among those on the boat.

Key quotes

“I will not talk about it.”

— Robert Wagner, in a 2011 interview with The Hollywood Reporter

“I don’t know what happened.”

— Christopher Walken, to detectives in 1981

“Wagner remains a person of interest.”

— Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, 2018 statement

Additional sources

vocal.media, globalnews.ca, nbclosangeles.com, cbsnews.com, youtube.com, people.com, therichest.com, quotidianoreport.it

For a deeper look into the ongoing mystery, read more about Robert Wagners Hollywood career and Natalie Woods death.

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Frequently asked questions

Was Robert Wagner ever charged with Natalie Wood’s death?

No. Wagner was never charged. He was named a person of interest in 2018 and cleared of involvement in May 2022 (People).

What did the 2018 investigation reveal?

Investigators said Wood’s death was being treated as a suspicious death and that Wagner was the last person to be with her before she disappeared. They reviewed more than 100 tips but could not determine if the death was a homicide or an accident (Global News).

Where does Robert Wagner live now?

Wagner lives in Los Angeles, California, with his wife, actress Jill St. John.

How did Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood meet?

The couple met in the early 1950s when both were rising stars in Hollywood. They married in 1957 when Wagner was 27 and Wood was 19.

What is Robert Wagner’s most famous role?

Wagner is best known for playing Jonathan Hart in the television series Hart to Hart (1979-1984), which earned him multiple Emmy nominations.

Does Robert Wagner have any grandchildren?

Yes. Wagner’s daughter, Katie Wagner, has children, making him a grandfather.

What was the cause of Natalie Wood’s death?

The official cause of death was drowning. The case was originally ruled an accident before being reopened in 2011 (CBS excerpt).

Will there be further investigation?

As of 2025, the case remains open but at a standstill. Investigators have said they need new tips or evidence to proceed. Wagner has not spoken to investigators since 2018.

For Robert Wagner, the choice is clear: continue living quietly in Los Angeles, or face the public questions that will never fully go away. For the public, the implication is equally stark: the Natalie Wood case will remain one of Hollywood’s great unsolved mysteries unless new evidence emerges.