Diane Keaton reportedly experienced significant health challenges in the months leading up to her passing at the age of 79.
On Saturday, October 11, Keaton’s representative confirmed the news of her death at age 79, though no additional details were provided. Her family requested privacy as they mourned their profound loss.
Us Weekly reached out for further comment regarding her passing from Keaton’s representatives.
A close friend of Keaton later shared with People that the Annie Hall star had seen a rapid decline in her health during her final months and had withdrawn from public engagements. Once a familiar face in her Brentwood, California, neighborhood, including daily strolls with her dog Reggie, Keaton stopped making public appearances earlier this year, her friend revealed.
It was reported that Keaton preferred to keep the specifics of her health issues private from many in her social circle, opting instead to spend time with only her “closest family.” She was the mother of two: her daughter Dexter and son Duke, both adopted as infants.
In March, it was revealed that Keaton had placed her 1920s-style home in Sullivan Canyon up for sale, even reducing the price by $1.4 million to expedite the sale. This news was particularly startling, given that she had nearly rebuilt the property from the ground up.
Keaton chronicled her extensive renovation in her 2017 design book The House That Pinterest Built, where she detailed how using Pinterest boards contributed to the increased value of her 9,200 square foot home. (She purchased the Sullivan Canyon estate for $4.7 million in 2011 and listed it for $27.5 million earlier this year.)
In a 2017 interview with Architectural Digest, Keaton expressed how “soothing” it was to draw inspiration from others’ design ideas on Pinterest during her remodeling project.
“I’m still in love with it; I’m still in love with Pinterest!” she exclaimed enthusiastically. “To me, it serves as a soothing pursuit because it leads to something more, creating a continuous flow of inspiration. That’s the light you aim for—the illumination from the screen—and it enhances everything,” she added.
Diane Keaton in February 2004. Vince Bucci/Getty Images
In addition to Pinterest, Keaton drew unexpected inspiration from the classic children’s story, The Three Little Pigs, when renovating her home.
Reflecting on the story, she noted in The House That Pinterest Built that she always envisioned herself living in a brick house as an adult, inspired by the sturdy construction of the pigs’ homes.
Keaton leaves behind her two children, Dexter and Duke, whom she adopted in her 50s. Although she never married, she had well-known relationships with co-stars Woody Allen, Al Pacino, and Warren Beatty during the 1970s.
In the wake of her passing, numerous friends, co-stars, and notable admirers paid heartfelt tributes to the Hollywood icon.
“My heart is shattered,” shared Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Keaton’s co-star from Father of the Bride. “Working with Diane Keaton was a highlight of my life. I’m grateful for her kindness, generosity, artistry, and most importantly, her humor.”
Josh Gad commented on Keaton’s death, describing it as a “profound loss” for the film industry, remarking, “Diane Keaton has profoundly shaped my love for cinema. From Annie Hall to the Godfather series, from First Wives Club to Baby Boom, and Father of the Bride to Something’s Gotta Give, her resume is truly iconic.”
Gad noted the recent passings of other cinematic legends, affirming there are simply “no substitutes for a Gene Hackman, Robert Redford, or Diane Keaton.” He reflected, “These were the trailblazers who redefined filmmaking for an entire generation, and their loss signifies that we are losing pieces of a golden age of cinema.” He extended his condolences to Diane’s family during this incredibly difficult time. “Rest in peace.”
