Diane Keaton, the beloved and trailblazing actress whose career defined generations of cinema, has died at the age of 79.
Keaton’s death was confirmed by producer Dori Rath, who had previously collaborated with her. The cause of death has not yet been disclosed. According to a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Fire Department, emergency responders were called to Keaton’s Brentwood residence at approximately 8:08 a.m. Saturday morning following a request for medical assistance. Paramedics transported one individual to a nearby hospital, and a law enforcement source later confirmed that the person taken for treatment was Keaton.
Keaton rose to prominence in the 1970s, first captivating audiences as Kay Adams in The Godfather series and later as Woody Allen’s quirky, endearing muse in films such as Play It Again, Sam, Sleeper, and the romantic classic Annie Hall. Her performance in Annie Hall earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1978, cementing her place among Hollywood’s greats.
Celebrated for her distinctive wit, charm, and effortlessly original fashion sense, Keaton enjoyed a career that spanned six decades and crossed generational lines. Her memorable roles included hits like Baby Boom, Father of the Bride, The First Wives Club, Something’s Gotta Give, and the more recent Book Club films.
Born Diane Hall in Los Angeles in 1946, she was the eldest of four siblings. She honed her craft at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City and made her Broadway debut in the countercultural musical Hair. Beyond her acting accomplishments, Keaton was also a director, producer, photographer, and bestselling author, known for her creativity and authenticity both on and off screen.
Tributes from colleagues and friends began flooding in shortly after news of her passing broke. Actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley, who starred alongside Keaton in Father of the Bride, called the experience “one of the highlights of my life.”
Williams-Paisley wrote in an Instagram post honoring Keaton: “Diane, working with you will always be one of the highlights of my life. You are one of a kind, and it was thrilling to be in your orbit for a time. Thank you for your kindness, your generosity, your talent, and above all, your laughter. 
”
Actress Mary Steenburgen described Keaton as “magic,”writing in a statement: “There was no one, nor will there ever be, anyone like her. I loved her and felt blessed to be her friend. My love to her family. What a wonder she was!!!”
Goldie Hawn also remembered her ‘The First Wives Club’ costar with an emotional tribute to her longtime friend: “Diane, we aren’t ready to lose you. You’ve left us with a trail of fairy dust, filled with particles of light and memories beyond imagination. How do we say goodbye? What words can come to mind when your heart is broken? You never liked praise, so humble, but now you can’t tell me to ‘shut up’ honey. There was, and will be, no one like you … We agreed to grow old together, and one day, maybe live together with all our girlfriends. Well, we never got to live together, but we did grow older together. Who knows… maybe in the next life.Shine your fairy dust up there, girlfriend. I’m going to miss the hell out of you.”
Bette Midler also celebrated Keaton in a tribute, writing: “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, or any of the competitiveness one would have expected from such a star. What you saw was who she was…oh, la, lala!”
Keaton is survived by her two children, Dexter, 29, and Duke, 25. Her final Instagram post, shared on April 11, featured a warm photo of her with her cherished Golden Retriever, Reggie — a fitting glimpse into the private, heartfelt side of an actress who spent her life bringing joy to others.
Editorial credit: Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com
