Oscar-winning actress dies aged 79, US media report
Noor Nanjiculture reporter
Oscar-winning actress Diane Keaton has died at the age of 79, producer and Keaton’s friend Dori Rath confirmed to the BBC’s US partner CBS News.
Born in Los Angeles, Keaton rose to fame in the 1970s with her role as Kay Adams-Corleone in The Godfather films.
She was also known for her roles in films such as Father of the Bride, The First Wives Club, and Annie Hall, for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1978.
The actress, whose Hollywood career spanned more than 50 years, died in California, her family said in a statement to People magazine.
Silver Screen Collection via Getty ImagesKeaton won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical and the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in Annie Hall.
Keaton has appeared in dozens of films throughout his career, including The Family Stone, Because I Said So, and So It Goes, as well as other Woody Allen films such as Play It Again, Sam, Sleeper, Love and Death, and Manhattan.
Keaton made his film debut in the 1970 romantic comedy Lovers and Other Strangers. His most recent film was the 2024 comedy Summer Camp, opposite Eugene Levy and Kathy Bates.
Keaton also directed many films; The first of these was the 1987 documentary Paradise, which described people’s beliefs about the afterlife. The 1995 comedy-drama film Unstrung Heroes, starring Andie MacDowell, John Turturro and Michael Richards, was selected for the Cannes Film Festival’s Un Certain Regard category, which showcases the unique stories of budding directors.
Keaton last directed Hang Up, a comedy-drama in 2000 starring himself, Meg Ryan and Lisa Kudrow.
Keaton was known for her unique style, both in her film roles and in her personal life, which often featured men’s clothing and wide-brimmed hats.
Columbia/Tristar via Getty ImagesHis First Wives Club co-star Bette Midler paid tribute, writing on Instagram: “The brilliant, beautiful, incredible Diane Keaton has passed away. I can’t tell you how unbearably sad this makes me.”
“He was very funny, completely original and completely free of guile or any competitiveness one would expect from such a star. What you saw was who he was… ah, la, lala!”
Ron Galella Collection via Getty ImagesActor Ben Stiller paid tribute to
Keaton was nominated for three more Oscars, all in the best actress category, for her performances in Something’s Gotta Give, Marvin’s Room, and Reds.
He never married and had two adopted children: a daughter named Dexter and a son named Duke.
Keaton wrote in his 2011 autobiography, Then Again, “I evaluated my happiness quotient, and this is the result. I am completely happy when the ones I love are happy about something, big or small, insignificant.”
“I don’t think anyone can feel the wonderful, intense, compelling emotions I feel towards my family.”
