Diane Keaton Dead at 79

Oscar-winning actress Diane Keaton has died at the age of 79. Details and cause of death have not been revealed.

Keaton was born in Los Angeles and shot to fame in the 1970s through her role in The Godfather films but was also known for starring roles in films including Father of the Bride, First Wives Club and Annie Hall, which won her the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1978.

Keaton also won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical Motion Picture and the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in Annie Hall.

Her career spanned over five decades including films such as The Family Stone, Because I Said So, And So It Goes, as well as a number of other Woody Allen films, like Play It Again, Sam, Sleeper, Love and Death and Manhattan. 

Keaton made her film debut in the 1970 romantic comedy Lovers and Other Strangers. Her most recent film was the 2024 comedy Summer Camp where she starred alongside Eugene Levy and Kathy Bates.

Keaton also directed several films, the first of which was a 1987 documentary, Heaven, chronicling people’s beliefs about the afterlife. Her 1995 film Unstrung Heroes – a comedy-drama starring Andie MacDowell, John Turturro and Michael Richards – was selected for Cannes Film Festival’s Un Certain Regard, which showcases unique stories by emerging directors. 

Much of Hollywood has taken to social media to pay tribute including Bette Midler and Ben Stiller.

Keaton never married but had two adopted children – a daughter, Dexter, and a son, Duke.

In her 2011 autobiography, titled Then Again, Keaton wrote: “I have assessed my happiness ratio and this is the result. I am totally content whenever the ones I love are happy about something little, big, insignificant, whatever. 

“I just don’t think anyone could possibly have the same wonderful, intense, compelling feelings that I have for this family of mine.”