Diane Keaton, the Oscar-winning actress celebrated for her roles in Annie Hall, The Godfather and Father of the Bride, has died aged 79 in California on Saturday, October 11.
A spokesperson confirmed her passing, stating, “There are no further details available at this time, and her family has asked for privacy in this moment of great sadness.”
The Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed it responded to Keaton’s home at 8:08 a.m. local time and transported a 79-year-old woman to a nearby hospital.
Born in Los Angeles in 1946 as Diane Hall, she adopted her mother’s maiden name, Keaton, after moving to New York to pursue acting. She began her career in theatre before landing her breakthrough role as Kay Adams in The Godfather (1972), later reprising the role in its sequels.
Keaton’s performance in Woody Allen’s Annie Hall (1977) earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress and cemented her reputation as a Hollywood icon known for wit, individuality and distinctive style. Her later work included The First Wives Club, Something’s Gotta Give, Book Club and The Family Stone.
Despite her success, Keaton often spoke candidly about personal struggles and her unconventional life choices, saying in 2019, “I’m really glad I didn’t get married. I’m an oddball.”
Tributes have flooded in from across Hollywood following her death as industry peers remember her as an “icon of style and comedy.”
Ben Stiller led heartfelt tributes, calling her “one of the greatest film actors ever. An icon of style, humour and comedy. Brilliant. What a person.”
Her First Wives Club co-star Bette Midler shared, “The brilliant, beautiful, extraordinary Diane Keaton has died. I cannot tell you how unbearably sad this makes me. She was hilarious, a complete original, and completely without guile.”
Piers Morgan described Keaton as “one of Hollywood’s greatest actresses, and a delightful lady. Sad news.”
Mary Steenburgen, Keaton’s close friend and Book Club co-star, added, “Diane was magic. There was no one, nor will there ever be, anyone like her. I loved her and felt blessed to be her friend.”
Director Paul Feig also expressed sorrow, saying, “I was so honoured to call Diane Keaton a friend. She was an amazingly kind and creative person who just happened to be a Hollywood legend. She has been taken from us far too soon.”
Keaton is survived by her two adopted children, Dexter and Duke.
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