Hollywood lost a true legend this weekend – Diane Keaton died on October 11 at the age of 79.
Born Diane Hall on January 5, 1946, in Los Angeles, her path to stardom was shaped early by her mother’s victory in the “Mrs. Los Angeles” homemaker pageant—a spectacle of performance that Diane later said kindled her theatrical impulses. As a young woman she gravitated toward strong, independent role models like Katharine Hepburn, an influence she cited often.
After performing in high school, she briefly attended college for drama but ultimately abandoned formal training and moved to New York to pursue acting more directly. Upon joining Actors’ Equity, she adopted Keaton, her mother’s maiden name, because “Diane Hall” was already registered.
Her early stage work included the original Broadway run of Hair (1968) and Woody Allen’s Play It Again, Sam (1969)—a role that earned her a Tony nomination.
Keaton made her film debut with a small role in Lovers and Other Strangers (1970), but it was The Godfather (1972) that thrust her into cinematic prominence as Kay Adams, a role she reprised in Part II (1974) and Part III (1990). Francis Ford Coppola has said he cast her after noticing her eccentric reputation, hoping she would bring something singular to the role.
However, it was her collaboration with Woody Allen that truly defined much of her career and public image. She appeared in eight of his films, and Allen often credited her as his muse in those formative years. Her most celebrated performance was in Annie Hall (1977) as the titular character, which earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress. The character’s wardrobe—menswear, vests, structured trousers—reflected Keaton’s own personal style and cemented her place as a fashion icon.
That same year she surprised critics by taking on a darker, more dramatic role in Looking for Mr. Goodbar. Through the decades, she proved her range in films like Father of the Bride, The First Wives Club, Something’s Gotta Give, and even lent her voice to Finding Dory. Her final film appearance was in Summer Camp (2024).
Keaton never married but did have romantic associations with prominent figures in entertainment. In her 50s she adopted two children: a daughter in 1996 and a son in 2001.
She also explored real estate and design, renovating and flipping several mansions. One of her clients was Madonna, who purchased a Beverly Hills property from her. Keaton authored several books, including her memoir Then Again (2011), offering introspective looks into her life, passions, and struggles.
Diane Keaton’s influence cannot be overstated. She was praised as “one of the great American actresses from the heyday of the 1970s,” a style icon, and a “treasure” whose personal and professional style was “difficult to explicate and impossible to duplicate.” Her awards and honors were many: an Academy Award, BAFTA, two Golden Globes, plus nominations across Emmys and Tony Awards. She was honored with a Film at Lincoln Center Tribute in 2007 and the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2017.
She also directed a handful of music videos, including this one!