Bette Midler shared her cherished reflections on her experiences with the late Diane Keaton following Keaton’s passing.
During her appearance on the episode of Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen on Thursday, October 16, Midler, now 79, was prompted to reminisce about her favorite moments with Keaton.
“Without a doubt, my favorite was The First Wives Club. We had an amazing time on that film,” Midler recalled. “It was truly the most fun I’ve ever experienced because the two ladies [Keaton and co-star Goldie Hawn] kept me in stitches every single day. I laughed until I cried.”
“What a wonderful time we had,” she added.
The news that Keaton had passed away at 79 emerged on Saturday, October 11. While initial specifics were scarce, her family later confirmed on Wednesday, October 15, that pneumonia was the cause.
In the wake of this news, Midler expressed heartfelt admiration for Keaton, speaking glowingly of her during the Thursday WWHL segment with host Andy Cohen.
“I met her ages ago when a friend introduced us, and I’ve always been a huge fan. She was incredibly unique, so special, and utterly herself,” Midler said. “I would go home trying to replicate her style, that infectious, giddy way… but I could never succeed. No one could match her true essence. She was truly an extraordinary personality.”
Earlier in the week, Midler shared similar thoughts during her appearance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert on Tuesday, October 14.
“She was an absolute genius,” Midler remarked. “There was something just so enchanting about her… she was unapologetically her own person. Her authenticity was unmatched.”
Midler noted she felt a bit intimidated during her first encounter with Keaton.
“I vividly remember meeting her and Goldie… I was quite new, and we gathered at a cafe at a round table, and I felt so intimidated,” Midler told Stephen Colbert. “They started swapping stories, and I’ve never laughed so hard in my life. It was absolutely magical.”
In The First Wives Club, Midler, Keaton, and Hawn portrayed former college friends who unite against their ex-husbands. The beloved 1996 film was adapted from Olivia Goldsmith’s 1992 novel.
Prior to her late-night television segments, Midler honored Keaton with a heartfelt Instagram tribute on October 11.
“The extraordinary Diane Keaton has passed away,” Midler expressed alongside a picture of Keaton. “I am deeply saddened by this loss. She was funny, a true original, and refreshingly genuine without any of the competitive spirit one might expect from a star. What you saw was simply who she was…oh, la, lala!”
