Oscar-winning actress and Hollywood legend Diane Keaton has died at the age of 79.
Keaton, born in Los Angeles, gained international acclaim in the 1970s for her role as Kay Adams-Corleone in The Godfather trilogy. She later became one of cinema’s most celebrated performers with standout roles in Annie Hall, Father of the Bride, and The First Wives Club.
Her portrayal of the quirky and endearing Annie Hall in Woody Allen’s 1977 romantic comedy earned her the Academy Award, Golden Globe, and BAFTA for Best Actress, solidifying her status as one of the most versatile talents in Hollywood history.
Producer and longtime friend Dori Rath confirmed Keaton’s passing to CBS News, while a family spokesperson told People magazine that she died in California on Saturday.
Across a career spanning more than five decades, Keaton appeared in dozens of films, including The Family Stone, Because I Said So, and And So It Goes. She also featured prominently in several of Woody Allen’s classics such as Play It Again, Sam, Sleeper, Love and Death, and Manhattan. Her final screen appearance was in the 2024 comedy Summer Camp, alongside Eugene Levy and Kathy Bates.
In addition to acting, Keaton was an accomplished director. Her 1987 documentary Heaven explored human beliefs about the afterlife, while her 1995 feature Unstrung Heroes premiered at the Cannes Film Festival under the Un Certain Regard category. She later directed Hanging Up (2000), in which she starred alongside Meg Ryan and Lisa Kudrow.
Keaton’s signature menswear-inspired fashion — often highlighted by her wide-brimmed hats — became as iconic as her on-screen charm, influencing generations of artists and fashion enthusiasts.
Tributes have flooded social media from across the entertainment world.
Bette Midler, her First Wives Club co-star, wrote: “The brilliant, beautiful, extraordinary Diane Keaton has died. She was hilarious, a complete original, and completely without guile.”
Goldie Hawn described her as leaving “a trail of fairy dust, filled with particles of light and memories beyond imagination.”
Steve Martin, who starred with her in Father of the Bride, remembered their “delightful relationship,” while Ben Stiller hailed her as “one of the greatest film actors ever — an icon of style, humor, and comedy.”
Over her career, Keaton received four Oscar nominations — all for Best Actress — for Annie Hall, Reds, Marvin’s Room, and Something’s Gotta Give.
She never married and is survived by her two adopted children, Dexter and Duke.
In her 2011 memoir Then Again, Keaton reflected on love and family, writing:
“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.”
