Diane Keaton, who sadly passed away on October 11, 2025, at the age of 79, quickly rose to prominence in the film industry. After her screen debut in “Lovers and Other Strangers,” her next major film role was in “The Godfather.” Keaton portrayed Kay Adams, the second wife—and later, second former wife—of Michael Corleone (Al Pacino). She later revealed that she hadn’t read “The Godfather” novel when she auditioned for the role, which did not stop her from securing this pivotal part.

Keaton’s role in “The Godfather” franchise was a significant milestone in her career. Her return in “The Godfather Part II” became historic when the film became the first sequel to win an Academy Award for Best Picture. Surprisingly, in 2017, Keaton admitted that she had only recently watched “The Godfather” again, after decades. She felt a disconnection from the film and struggled to comprehend her place within its iconic legacy.

“The Godfather Part III” faced criticism upon its 1990 release, and Keaton herself was among the critics. She told Variety, “When I saw it way back, it was like ‘Oh, I don’t know.’ It didn’t seem to do that well and the reviews weren’t great.” However, a few years after revisiting “The Godfather,” she had another chance to view “The Godfather Part III” during a new cut’s release in theaters by director and co-writer Francis Ford Coppola in 2020.

The recut offered redemption for the character of Michael Corleone and, in a way, for Keaton as well, at least from a fan’s perspective. “It was one of the best moments of my life to watch it,” she shared with Variety after experiencing the recut. “To me, it was a dream come true. I saw the movie in a completely different light.”