Diane Keaton, the beloved Oscar-winning actress admired for her endearing charm both on and off the screen, has passed away due to pneumonia, her family has announced. The Keaton family, in a heartfelt message shared with People Magazine on Wednesday, expressed their gratitude for the outpouring of love and support they have received following her passing on October 11.
“The Keaton family are very grateful for the extraordinary messages of love and support they have received these past few days on behalf of their beloved Diane,” the statement read. “She passed away from pneumonia on October 11.”
Remembered not only for her on-screen talents but also for her compassion, the family added, “She loved her animals and was steadfast in her support of the unhoused community. Any donations in her memory to a local food bank or animal shelter would be a wonderful and much appreciated tribute to her.”
The 79-year-old actress’s family initially confirmed her death to NBC News last week, choosing not to disclose any further details and requesting privacy during this difficult time.
Keaton’s journey to stardom began in Los Angeles, where she grew up before dropping out of drama school in California to chase her dreams in New York. It was there that she landed her first significant role on Broadway, starring in Woody Allen’s “Play It Again, Sam.”
Her talents soon transitioned to the silver screen, where she reprised her role from the 1968 theatrical production. Keaton’s memorable performance alongside Al Pacino in the 1974 classic “The Godfather” quickly established her as a rising star in Hollywood.
Keaton won her sole Academy Award in 1977, reuniting with Allen to play his love interest in “Annie Hall.” She’d later earn nominations for other works, including “Marvin’s Room,” which co-starred Meryl Streep and a young Leonardo DiCaprio.
While Keaton had an undoubtedly prolific career both as an actor and director, it seems her uniqueness and humble personality are what her loved ones remembered her for after her death.
Jane Fonda, who acted alongside Keaton in the 2018 movie “Book Club,” wrote that it was hard to believe her friend had died.
“She was always a spark of life and light, constantly giggling at her own foibles, being limitlessly creative … in her acting, her wardrobe, her books, her friends, her homes, her library, her worldview,” Fonda wrote in a post on Instagram.
In an appearance over the weekend, Reese Witherspoon recalled first meeting Keaton as a 15-year-old early in her career. Witherspoon auditioned for a role in the Keaton-directed film “Wildflower” and described Keaton as one of her first mentors.
“She is just incredible and indelible and just a truly original person,” Witherspoon said.
Keaton is survived by her daughter, Dexter, and son, Duke, whom she adopted when she was in her 50s.
