In the United States, Diane Keaton, celebrated for her distinctive comedic flair and unmistakable sense of style, has died at the age of 79.
Stars across Hollywood, from Goldie Hawn to Bette Midler to Steve Martin, paid heartfelt tributes to the late actor. “It’s hard to believe,” said Jane Fonda in a statement mourning her longtime friend.
Her death was first reported by People magazine. CNN confirmed the news through producer Dori Rath, who had worked with Keaton, while reaching out to her representatives and the Los Angeles Police Department.
The LAPD referred inquiries to the Los Angeles Medical Examiner, which had no record of her death at the time of reporting. No cause of death was immediately available.
A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Fire Department told CNN that they received a call for medical assistance at Keaton’s home earlier that morning, and paramedics transported a person to a hospital.
Keaton was an acclaimed and prolific actor whose career spanned decades. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1977 for Annie Hall, a film that not only showcased her comedic brilliance but also her emotional depth and authenticity.
Annie Hall also cemented Keaton’s status as a fashion icon, known for her signature look of men’s trousers, vests, and wide-brimmed hats. Her gender-nonconforming style was far ahead of its time and remained a hallmark of her identity throughout her life.
An undeniable comedic talent who once said in 1997 that she’s “more inclined to live comfortably in the world of humor,” Keaton also shone in dramatic roles, notably as Kay Adams-Corleone in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather trilogy.
Born Diane Hall in Los Angeles in 1946, she once shared that her mother’s time as a pageant winner inspired her to perform. “There she was in the theater, and I saw the curtain open and there was my mother, and I thought, ‘Hm, I think I’d like that for myself,’” Keaton said in a 2004 Fresh Air interview.
After making her Broadway debut in Hair in the late 1960s, famously refusing to perform nude despite a $50 bonus, Keaton’s breakthrough came with 1972’s The Godfather.
Her collaborations with Woody Allen in Sleeper, Play It Again, Sam, and especially Annie Hall made her one of Hollywood’s most beloved stars.
Her later filmography included Looking for Mr. Goodbar, Reds, Baby Boom, and The First Wives Club, where she starred alongside Goldie Hawn and Bette Midler. She earned four Oscar nominations throughout her career, the last for Something’s Gotta Give (2003).
In her later years, Keaton appeared in The Family Stone, Book Club, and its sequel, and continued to act, produce, and direct. She was also known for her independence and candid reflections on life.
“I didn’t want to give up my independence,” she said in a 2021 Interview magazine feature. “By the way, no one has ever asked me to marry them, either, so that might be a good answer.”
Keaton is survived by her two children, Dexter and Duke, both of whom she adopted in her 50s.
Reflecting on motherhood in 2005, she said, “Before kids, if I worried, it was only about myself, but that’s all you do is worry as a parent. It’s rule number one in parenting: secretly worry without letting the kids know you’re worried.”
At 69, she told AARP magazine, “At this age, everything seems much more astonishing. Like, Oh my goodness, look at that sycamore tree! Why didn’t I see that before? There’s a magical aspect, a wonder, to being on this planet.”
