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Digital Phablet – Diane Keaton has passed away. She was 79 years old.
The renowned actress died in California. Currently, no further details are available, and her family has requested privacy during this time.
In the 1970s, Diane Keaton gained fame for her roles in The Godfather series and her collaborations with director Woody Allen. Her performance in Annie Hall, released in 1977, earned her an Oscar for Best Actress. Over her extensive career, she appeared in films such as The First Wives Club, The Book Club series, and numerous projects with director Nancy Meyers.
Born Diane Hall in Los Angeles in 1946, she was the eldest of four children. Her father was a construction engineer, and her mother managed the home.
Keaton believed her mother had greater aspirations. In 2004, she remarked that she thought her true calling was to be an entertainer of some sort. “She sang. She played the piano. She looked beautiful. She was my voice.”
She participated in plays during high school and pursued acting studies in college after graduating in 1964. However, she soon dropped out and moved to New York to pursue a career in theater. Since another actress named Diane Hall already used that name professionally, she adopted her mother’s maiden name, Keaton.
In 1968, Keaton served as Sheila’s stand-in in the Broadway production of Hair. She later revealed in 2017 that she struggled with bulimia during this period, influenced by a director’s comments about her weight. She emphasized that her struggle stemmed from a desire for more: “Trust me, it was because I wanted more than I had. Far too much. She was mentally unwell,” she admitted.
She starred as the lead in Woody Allen’s 1969 Broadway play Play It Again, Sam, earning a Tony Award nomination. Her film debut came in 1970 with Lovers and Other Strangers, but her major breakthrough was her role as Kay Adams, Michael Corleone’s girlfriend, in The Godfather (1972). Interestingly, she hadn’t read Mario Puzo’s novel before her audition, so she was initially unaware of the movie’s detailed story.
Keaton was cast in The Godfather without prior knowledge of the plot, which she considered a fortunate stroke of luck: “I got cast without even reading it. That was the kindest thing anyone has ever done for me.” She recalled to PEOPLE in 2022 that she had no idea what was happening on set, just trying out different scenes, and eventually had to read the book afterward.
The Godfather was a colossal success, winning the Oscar for Best Picture. Keaton reprised her role in the sequels The Godfather Part II and Part III, released in 1974 and 1990, respectively.
Her collaboration with Woody Allen continued through the years. She appeared in films such as Play It Again, Sam (1972), Sleeper (1973), and Love and Death (1975). Despite her achievements, Keaton was often her harshest critic, revealing in 1975 that she disliked watching her own movies because she didn’t like her appearance or voice—an insecurity rooted in her early struggles with mental health.
In 1977, Keaton starred in Allen’s Annie Hall, a role that earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress. The character’s wardrobe—filled with menswear, vests, and tailored pants—made her a fashion icon. Many believed the film was inspired by her close friendship with Allen, though she clarified to The New York Times, “It’s not true, but some parts of it are true.”
The duo continued to collaborate on Interiors (1978), Manhattan (1979), and Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993). Keaton also publicly supported Allen amidst accusations of abuse by his niece Dylan Farrow, stating in 2014, “I love him.”
Her filmography expanded with roles in Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977), Reds (1981), Shoot the Moon (1982), and The Little Drummer Girl (1984). Her partnership with Nancy Meyers began with Baby Boom (1987), and they worked together on several more films, including Father of the Bride (1991), Father of the Bride Part II (1995), and Something’s Gotta Give (2003), which earned Keaton another Oscar nomination. When asked about her favorite project, she admitted, “You might think it’s cheesy, but I love the Father of the Bride movies. They’re so sweet.”
Later works included The Family Stone, Because I Said So, Finding Dory, Book Club and its sequel, and Poms. She made a rare TV appearance in 2016 on HBO’s The Young Pope. As a director, Keaton helmed the documentary Heaven (1987), the feature Hanging Up (2000), and an episode of Twin Peaks.
In 2021, she appeared in Justin Bieber’s music video for “Ghost.” She also actively used Instagram to share glimpses of her personal life, career reflections, and appreciation for loved ones.
Keaton once said in 2019 that she felt she knew little about her profession — “I’m dumber now that I’m older. I would’ve been out of place if I hadn’t acted.” She never married, explaining to PEOPLE that she was glad she hadn’t: “I’m glad I didn’t get married. I’m a strange one. In high school, someone told me, ‘One day you’ll make a good wife,’ but I thought, ‘No, I’d rather not be a wife.’”
Throughout her life, she had relationships with Woody Allen, Al Pacino, and Warren Beatty. She reflected that “Talent is so damn attractive,” sharing the sentiment with PEOPLE.
Keaton adopted two children, a daughter named Dexter and a son named Duke, in 1996 and 2001. She explained to Ladies’ Home Journal in 2008 that motherhood was an idea she had long considered rather than an uncontrollable urge: “Becoming a mother wasn’t a need I fought — it was a long-standing idea. So I dove right in.”
Diane Keaton’s legacy is one of remarkable talent, enduring influence, and authenticity, leaving behind a lasting mark on Hollywood and beyond.
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