This comes as a huge shock to me: Diane Keaton has passed away at the age of 79. It feels so shocking because Diane was one of the most vivacious and upbeat celebrities out there – an optimistic oddball, in the best way. She won the Best Actress Oscar for Annie Hall in 1977. I know Woody Allen is thoroughly canceled and everything, but she was great in Annie Hall. She also received Oscar nominations for Reds, Marvin’s Room and Something’s Got to Give (one of my favorite performances from her). She also played Kay in the Godfather trilogy (iconic). Baby Boom is probably my favorite Diane Keaton film – she’s just perfect in it, sassy, neurotic and funny, but she also brought so much sweetness to the movie. Diane was survived by her two children.
Diane Keaton has died. She was 79. PEOPLE can confirm the legendary actress died in California. “There are no further details available at this time, and her family has asked for privacy in this moment of great sadness,” a spokesperson tells PEOPLE.
Keaton rose to fame in the 1970s thanks to her role in The Godfather films and her collaborations with director Woody Allen. She won an Oscar for Best Actress for 1977’s Annie Hall. Her long career included movies like The First Wives Club, multiple collaborations with director Nancy Meyers and the Book Club franchise.
The actress was born in Los Angeles in 1946 as Diane Hall, and was the oldest of four children. Her father was a civil engineer, while her mom stayed at home. Still, Keaton thought her mother dreamed of something bigger. “Secretly in her heart of hearts she probably wanted to be an entertainer of some kind,” the actress told PEOPLE in 2004. “She sang. She played the piano. She was beautiful. She was my advocate.”
Keaton never married. “Today I was thinking, I’m the only one in my generation of actresses who has been a single woman all her life,” she explained to PEOPLE in 2019. “I’m really glad I didn’t get married. I’m an oddball. I remember in high school, this guy came up to me and said, ‘One day you’re going to make a good wife.’ And I thought, ‘I don’t want to be a wife. No.’”
She was romantically linked to Woody Allen, Al Pacino and Warren Beatty throughout her life. “Talent is so damn attractive,” she noted to PEOPLE.
Keaton had two children, daughter Dexter and son Duke, whom she adopted in 1996 and 2001, respectively. “Motherhood was not an urge I couldn’t resist, it was more like a thought I’d been thinking for a very long time. So I plunged in,” she told Ladies’ Home Journal in 2008. Keaton is survived by her children.
I’m glad her kids are adults, and we’re thinking about them during this difficult time. She was right – she was the only major actress out of her generation to never marry. She never made a big deal about it, and it was pretty genuine – she really didn’t want to be anyone’s wife. Bless her.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, WENN.com/Wenn/Avalon.
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- Diane Keaton, Al Pacino The Godfather (1972) Directed by Francis Ford Coppola USA – 1972,Image: 311033591, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WENN does not claim any ownership including but not limited to Copyright or License in the attached material. Fees charged by WENN are for WENN's services only, and do not, nor are they intended to, convey to the user any ownership of Copyright or License in the material. By publishing this material you expressly agree to indemnify and to hold WENN and its directors, shareholders and employees harmless from any loss, claims, damages, demands, expenses (including legal fees), or any causes of action or allegation against WENN arising out of or connected in any way with publication of the material., Model Release: no, Credit line: WENN.com/Wenn/Avalon
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- Diane Keaton, Robert Duvall The Godfather (1972) Directed by Francis Ford Coppola USA – 1972,Image: 311252234, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WENN does not claim any ownership including but not limited to Copyright or License in the attached material. Fees charged by WENN are for WENN's services only, and do not, nor are they intended to, convey to the user any ownership of Copyright or License in the material. By publishing this material you expressly agree to indemnify and to hold WENN and its directors, shareholders and employees harmless from any loss, claims, damages, demands, expenses (including legal fees), or any causes of action or allegation against WENN arising out of or connected in any way with publication of the material., Model Release: no, Credit line: WENN.com/Wenn/Avalon
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- 2003’s ‘Something’s Gotta Give’. Harry Langer (Jack Nicholson) is an aged music industry exec with a fondness for younger women like Marin (Amanda Peet), his latest trophy girlfriend. Things get a little awkward when Harry suffers a heart attack at the home of Marin’s mother Erica (Diane Keaton). Left in the care of Erica and his doctor (Keanu Reeves), a love triangle starts to take shape. Supplied by BWP Media.,Image: 518687513, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS, DIRECT SALES ONLY UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE IN CAPTION – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251 Madrid: +34 91 533 4289, Model Release: no, Credit line: /Avalon
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- DIANE KEATON ARRIVING AT THE OSCAR NOMINEES LUNCHEON. BEVERLY HILTON HOTEL, BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA. 9 FEBRUARY 2004. PICTURES. / UWIL.,Image: 547020888, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Photoshot – sales@photoshot.com London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Florida: +1 239 689 1883 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251, Model Release: no, Credit line: Michael Williams/Avalon
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- LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA – NOVEMBER 06: Diane Keaton arrives at the 10th Annual LACMA Art + Film Gala 2021 held at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art on November 6, 2021 in Los Angeles, California, United States.,Image: 642002432, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Diane Keaton, Credit line: Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/Avalon
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- Diane Keaton Diane Keaton at the 10th Annual LACMA ARTFILM GALA Presented By Gucci held at the LACMA in Los Angeles, USA on November 6, 2021. Copyright: xZoonar.com/Lumeimages.comx 19854759,Image: 823874604, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: imago is entitled to issue a simple usage license at the time of provision. Personality and trademark rights as well as copyright laws regarding art-works shown must be observed. Commercial use at your own risk., Model Release: no, Credit line: IMAGO/Zoonar.com/Lumeimages.com/Avalon
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- Diane Keaton Diane Keaton at Diane Keaton Hand- and Footprint Ceremony held at the TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood, USA on August 11, 2022. Copyright: xZoonar.com/Lumeimages.comx 19854691,Image: 823889319, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: imago is entitled to issue a simple usage license at the time of provision. Personality and trademark rights as well as copyright laws regarding art-works shown must be observed. Commercial use at your own risk., Model Release: no, Credit line: IMAGO/Zoonar.com/Lumeimages.com/Avalon
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- Diane Keaton Diane Keaton at Diane Keaton Hand- and Footprint Ceremony held at the TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood, USA on August 11, 2022. Copyright: xZoonar.com/Lumeimages.comx 19854813,Image: 823889347, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: imago is entitled to issue a simple usage license at the time of provision. Personality and trademark rights as well as copyright laws regarding art-works shown must be observed. Commercial use at your own risk., Model Release: no, Credit line: IMAGO/Zoonar.com/Lumeimages.com/Avalon
She did want to marry al Pacino though, and they split for good when Diane was 44 years old after being on/off for close to 20 years because he did not want to commit and settle down. She was an amazing actress, so fierce, so intelligent, so unapologetic and so full of life. What an icon!
What a strange parallel to their Godfather plot line.
I didn’t realise till years later that they were a real life couple – the chemistry they had in The Godfather jumped out at you.
RIP Diane – your light and talent will live on in your work.
79 is too young – my mum passed a year shy of that but it also seems to be an age where a lot of people pass.
And Pacino just had another kid. How strange life is.
I was TODAY years old,never knew they were a real life couple AND for twenty years!? Wow
@Neeve
Same girl, same
I think she dated a lot of complicated men who would be difficult to be in a marriage with.
That beign said, her lovers were the least interesting thing about her. She was a true original, hilarious, talented and wickedly funny.
I’m so so sad she is gone.
My grandmother died last year at 79 too. You hear the number and think, “okay, that’s old,” but some people are so vital you don’t even think about them that way, like with my Grandma and Keaton.
I hope her children are able to lean on one another to get through this. Grief is a beast.
Actually I hear that number and think “too young.” We have longevity in my family and just assume everyone will live till at least 90. 79 is still young enough to travel and work on meaningful projects. This really surprised me. RIP!
Longevty in my family, too, late 80s and mid-90s, so 79 doesn’t sound so old. And such a loss. Always surprised by which deaths hit harder.
There’s a fun interview with her, verbatim, so you really hear her voice, that’s up on Vulture right now. Not sure of link ettiquette so not posting, but a quick google (‘conversation with Nancy Meyers muse Diane Keaton’) should get you there.
The older I get, the more 70s feels young-ish to me. I feel like my parents/relatives didn’t seem truly elderly until they reached their 80s.
In any case, Keaton was a force. I loved her performances and I’m struck now at what a great example she is of aging naturally and gracefully. May she rest in peace.
RIP Diane rest now you did good work, For some reason i always loved watching her movies, i loved her quirkiness i shall be binge watching her catalogue
Don’t miss Baby Boom. Legit one of my absolute favs from the 80’s.
An amazing, creative, interesting woman. One of those actresses that feels like a friend. Her death is a huge loss.
The dumpster fire of 2025 takes another one.
I enjoy watching her films she was a very versatile actress excelling at both comedy.and drama. One of my all time favorites.
First Wives Club 4Eva!!
Love her in that and in Baby Boom!
One of my favorites yes! She was sooooo good in First Wives Club! I’m so sad she passed.
Love, love, love, LOVE that movie. I still remember how the press was talking about the age of the actresses, because they all turned 50 just before filming started or during filming this movie. And it was such a milestone to have three older women as leading ladies in the same movie. The chemistry these women had was amazing.
Compare their portrayal with Gloria Swanson’s in Sunset Boulevard, she was also 50 at that time. RIP Diane Keaton.
This has come as a real shock as 79 doesn’t feel that old and Diane was young at heart. She made acting seem so natural that despite her Academy Award she still feels underrated.
This is such a shock!! I really thought that Diane would live forever.
Her best performance was Annie Hall. In fact, that was her other name. Woody made the movie as a homage to Diane’s personality. It’s a perfect movie.
Her original last name was Hall, and she was called Annie as a diminutive of Diane.
RIP. She was amazing and authentically lived her life the way she wanted to live it.
That was my impression of her as well. It is to be admired in a world of the cookie cutter aesthetic
My dad died at 79–4 months from his 80th birthday. My mom is 79 now, and she just moved in to a house we bought together. I’m so glad she’s here. My cousin visited yesterday and she said how shocked she was that mom was 79. She doesn’t move like a 79 year old. My dad at 79 was mentally sharp, but he had loads of health problems all through his 70s. My mom seems fine, even as a 3 time cancer survivor. But 79 is an age that can differ so widely. And change so quickly. It makes me nervous. I’m hoping she’ll remain hale and hearty for many years so my 3 year old son can have loads of memories of her. Diane Keaton seemed hale and hearty, but maybe she’s declined more than we realized. Has she been seen recently?
May she Rest In Peace and Power.
A long time ago, when I lived in NYC and was still a shopaholic, I ended up in a small elevator with a woman who was wearing a fabulous hat. I admired her hat, and we chatted briefly. Boy, did I miss my moment!
💔
Way too soon. If you haven’t seen Annie Hall, I highly recommend viewing it. La-de-dah forever. She will definitely be missed.
She became my style icon after that movie! I didn’t have her insouciance–or whatever it was that made her different–but I tried!
RIP Sweet Diane ❤️
Her autobiography is really touching and real. Absolutely worth a read.
I love just about all her movies but Baby Boom is at the top… It didn’t hurt that Sam Shepard starred along her! 🥰 Now I gotta go check if I can find it streaming somewhere today. Perfect Sunday afternoon movie..
I love Baby Boom – it’s such an underrated classic, pitch perfect script and comedic timing. I had an old VHS tape of it and rewatched it endless times. The very definition of a comfort watch. The more I watched it, the more I was charmed, esp with the visual gags/jokes that went over my head on earlier watches. If you haven’t seen it I strongly recommend it!
It’s shocking news. She was still so vibrant, young at heart, AND a good human being. It is very sad news, especially for her younger adult children, as she was a single mom. I couldn’t imagine losing my mother in my mid to late 20s. It was hard enough when I was much older than them.
RIP Diane. The world was a much better place with you in it.
I need to see a lovely, lighthearted memorial about her with actors and people she worked with sharing funny and sweet stores about her to lighten this load.
RIP Diane. She was an amazing & versatile actress. Absolutely stunning in Shoot the Moon, an underrated film.
For the past 18 months she battled a very aggressive form of dementia. Very sad & thoughts are with her kids & sisters.
Shoot the Moon is terrific—wrenching performances. It never gets shown, for some reason…
I liked the film mar vins room where she played opposite Meryl Streep and a young Leonardo DiCaprio was also in the cast.
I’m shocked about it. Hoped to see her in more films. A true original. If you haven’t, watch Morning Glory, with Rachel McAdams and Harrison Ford, and of course Diane Keaton. That is a stunner of a movie for especially Diane and Rachel. RIP Miss Keaton.
She also was great in the comedy play it again Sam.
Y’all, this one hurts. I didn’t know her or anything, but Diane Keaton movies were a part of my life growing up. I saw The Godfather in the theater when I was in mid-high. Granted, I was totally agog at the gorgeous Al Pacino, but I later saw everything she was in as well as him. She was only 11 years older than me, I now know. Eleven years. Sigh.
I loved her in The Family Stone, an amazing and important role. I liked most of her movies and she was a huge supporter of my community. Her passing is incredibly sad. She leaves a huge void.