Robert Wagner Reveals Love Affair With Barbara Stanwyck, 23 Years His Senior

NEW YORK — Robert Wagner's marriage to Natalie Wood was known to all. His love affair with Barbara Stanwyck was a secret _ until now. In his new memoir "Pieces of My Heart," Wagner writes of his four-year romance with the star of such classics as "Stella Dallas" and "Double Indemnity."

They met on the set of "Titanic," released in 1953, when he was 22 and she 45 and divorced from actor Robert Taylor.

The press knew nothing about their relationship and neither did most of Hollywood, except for such friends as Nancy Sinatra, the first wife of Frank Sinatra; and Spencer Tracy, whose bond with Katharine Hepburn was the ultimate show business secret.

"I would say she gave me self-esteem," writes the actor whose successful TV series included "It Takes a Thief" and "Hart to Hart," but the relationship didn't hold. They were both too busy working and the age difference was too great. Stanwyck eventually broke it off.

"I would always have been Mr. Stanwyck," Wagner, now 78, writes, "and we both knew it."

Comments

[Capablanca]

Steamboater and DixieMelody:
Robert Taylor and Barbara Stanwyck were clearly, decidedly heterosexual.
There are countless number of notes and interviews in magazines, and stories of co-workers, producers, directors, and people who worked for them, in different autobiographies, where you can find reliable and trustworthy information.
His very well-known relationships were Lana Turner, Ava Gardner (during their marriage), Lia Di Leo (their marriage broke down after fifteen years of relationship because of Lia) Romina Tcherina, Yvonne De Carlo, Eleanor Parker and Ursula Thiess, his second and last wife. Stanwyck was not the love of his life but she never stopped loving him until the day of her death. She was never embarrassed to admit to everybody her eternal love for Robert Taylor. "There will be no other man in my life", she told reporters after the divorce, and there never was. In her soul, at least.
There are nothing but conjectures, suppositions, speculations, rumors... And these stupid but lucrative rumours have names: Boze Hadleigh and Axel Madsen. You just look at the reviews on their books and you will know their reputation. The only truly proven and documented fact is that people (mental leightweight people) love gossip.

[RobinSeattle]

Wow, Robert Wagner into the GMILFs. Him and Dethklok guitarist Skwisgar Skwigelf. Who knew? :p

[citizenofmars]

Poor Natalie Wood! She died believing that Wagner was true-blue, but his Semper-Fi routine was as phony as his smile. Makes you wonder what really happened that night in Avalon Harbor. There always was something 'Pimpy and Gigolo-like" about R.W and now we know. We now know he was a master of deception- four years! We must again question his accounts of the evening of her death even more closely.

[Alvin4NY]

Hmmm, really? I always got the impression that their marriage was pretty up and down, I never got an image of true-blue with either one of them.

[citizenofmars]

her bio sez it was pretty Storybook as far as she was concerned

[harriettubman]

Robert was always a hottie though.

[Donnybroke]

Shortly before the affair ended, Wagner got his sight back.

[Eric8869]

Sometimes men have a brain as well as eyes. unlike you.

[LeeCalif]

What a nice story. I like them both.

[Mattie]

I agree, she seemed like a classy lady!

[DixieMelody]

It has been printed in numerous books and periodicals that Barbara Stanwyck was a lesbian and that the marriage between her and Robert Taylor was in name only and orchestrated by their studio so they could act as "bears" for each other.

[justfine]

The term is "beard", not "bear".

[AngryAmish]

Not bear? Don't be so sure. Have you ever seen a pic of Stanwyck in a flannel shirt and boots?

[RonNYC]

Too bad Bob and Chris Walken pushed Natalie off that boat.

[happycat]

Nice. :(

[Eric8869]

You're gross

[1manisland]

Speaking of Chris Walken - I got a fever and I need more cow bell ............

[demfriend]

I think it's sad when actors who have done wonderful rolesin their younger days are forced to do informercials and old age ads for money. But when that doesn't keep the fires burning and gas in the car it is time to bring out the "shocking" news about something that happened so many years ago that too many people don't remember who the "woman" was. I still think Natalie Wood's death was a tragic thing that should have never been covered up as it was due to the stars involved.....

[ElvisLives666]

So Number 2 was banging on old broad? Maybe that's how he got that eyepatch: http://tinyurl.com/68cumw

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Crap link.

[tireddemocrat]

Robert Wagner had great taste, even as a young man. No one was more beautiful and sexy than Barbara Sanwyck--even at 45 she was gorgeous!

[happycat]

I love watching all of her old movies. She was wonderful in "Sorry Wrong Number." Great actress.

[Steamboater]

Great beauties have been known for either that or their acting. Stanwyck was a wonderful actress, but gorgeous? No. You want gorgeous look at Rita Hayworth, Hedy Lamaar, Lena Horne, Delores De Rio and Ava Gardner (with Gardner being my personal favorite in the beauty department). Not great actresses but really beautiful.

[anastasiabeaverhousen]

Agree. Hedy was possilby the most beautiful woman ever to be in motion pictures. Stunning, on a bad day.

[JScott]

Hmm an early Cougar eh?

[Srkdqltr]

After all these years.....­..........­.. WHO CARES?? Wagner is now relegated to selling reverse mortgages. How far they fall.

[Mattie]

Lots of people care, that's why he wrote a book. Not all of us are only interested in what Britney Spears is doing. She did great movies, she is a legend, and he made some excellent movies too. I would read the book!

[Bitsko]

Actually there are a few books that have mentioned this affair. Bob's just trying to sell his book.

[Steamboater]

Secrets secrets. Stanwycke's former husband, actor Robert Taylor was gay. He was the guy who made love to Garbo, a Lesbian, in "Camille". He spent his honeymoon night with Stanwyck with his mother. Hollywood even talked about Stanwyck herself as being one of the girls and rumors swirled like a hoop skirt around Wagner too when he was young. Hattie McDaniels of 'Gone With The Wind" fame was a Lesbian and Katherine Hepburn ...well, the list goes on and on. VOTE NO ON PROP 8 in CA.

[seachild]

secrets indeed...so many celebrities THEN AND NOW are in the closet...i heard about the ones you mentioned as well...what would be GOOD READING is if and when HE would come out (if those rumours are accurate) also...and another thing, Robert: TELL US WHAT HAPPENED TO NATALIE! She deserves it to be revealed.

thanks...
'NO TO PROP 8'

[Bluejay00234]

So what does it matter who was gay? You people need a fkn life.

[Steamboater]

It mattered enough to you who commented on it. You haven't got a clue.

[AngryAmish]

Does it matter who was straight? If it doesn't, then you shouldn't care whether Bob Wagner once engaged in the heterosexual act of boinking Ms. Stanwyck. And yet you do care, because you clicked on this story and contributed to this thread of comments. Ah, you care! You do!