Renowned actress Diane Keaton, celebrated for her performances in films like “First Wives Club” and “Father of the Bride,” has died at 79 due to pneumonia. Her family confirmed her passing on Wednesday, revealing that she died on Saturday, Oct. 11. The announcement of her death was met with an outpouring of condolences and tributes from fans and fellow actors.
Keaton’s family expressed their appreciation for the overwhelming messages of love and support they have received since her passing. They also highlighted Keaton’s deep affection for animals and her advocacy for the homeless community. In her memory, they suggested that donations to local food banks or animal shelters would be a fitting tribute.
A close friend of Keaton’s disclosed that her health had deteriorated rapidly in the final months of her life, a development that was particularly shocking given her renowned resilience and spirit. Keaton chose to keep her health struggles private during her last months, with only her closest family members aware of the severity of her condition.
Carole Bayer Sager, a Grammy and Oscar-winning songwriter and friend of Keaton’s, noted that Keaton had lost a significant amount of weight prior to her death. Another friend, a film executive, remembered Keaton as maintaining her sense of humor until the end, living life on her own terms surrounded by those she loved.
Keaton, whose career spanned over five decades, died in California. She had previously battled skin cancer twice and an eating disorder but had not disclosed any recent illnesses. Her last public appearance was six months ago on Instagram, where she shared a photo with her Golden Retriever, Reggie.
Keaton’s death prompted heartfelt tributes from many of her former co-stars, including Steve Martin, Woody Allen, Goldie Hawn, and Leonardo DiCaprio. Keaton, who never married, is survived by her two adopted children, Dexter, 29, and Duke, 25. She had once shared in an interview with Ladies’ Home Journal that motherhood was not an urge she couldn’t resist, but a thought she had been contemplating for a long time.
Keaton’s legacy extends beyond her illustrious acting career. At her Hand & Footprint Ceremony in 2022, she shared that her children had no interest in her profession, which she found to be healthy. She described their life as relatively normal, a testament to her ability to balance her personal life with her professional one.