Book Club stars Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, and Mary Steenburgen expressed their sorrow upon hearing the heartbreaking news of their costar Diane Keaton’s passing at the age of 79.
“It’s difficult to believe… or come to terms with… that Diane is no longer with us,” Fonda, 87, shared on Instagram on Saturday, October 11.
Keaton’s publicist confirmed her death to People, stating that the actress had passed away, with further details not disclosed initially. Her family, which included her two children, daughter Dexter and son Duke, requested “privacy” during their mourning period.
Fonda honored Keaton’s memory, calling her a “spark of life and light” who never took herself too seriously.
“[She was] always laughing at her own imperfections, boundlessly imaginative… in her performances, her wardrobe choices, her literature, her friendships, her residences, her library, her world perspective,” Fonda reminisced. “She was truly one-of-a-kind. And even if she never acknowledged it, she was an outstanding actress!”
Fonda, Bergen, and Steenburgen co-starred with Keaton in the 2018 romantic comedy Book Club, which was directed by Bill Holderman and grossed over $100 million at the box office. The film featured the four friends rekindling their romantic lives after engaging with the steamy passages of Fifty Shades of Grey in their book club.
“This is a monumental loss, personally and collectively,” Bergen, 79, remarked to People on Saturday. “Diane was a true artist — exceptionally gifted, uniquely talented across multiple fields, yet humble and wonderfully quirky. Her absence will be profoundly felt.”
Steenburgen, 72, referred to Keaton in her thoughts as “magical,” reflecting on her unparalleled impact in Hollywood.
Mary Steenburgen, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, and Diane Keaton in May 2018. Leon Bennett/Getty Images
“There was no one like her before, and there will never be again,” Steenburgen shared on Saturday. “I cherished her and felt honored to have been her friend. My affection goes out to her family. What a remarkable soul she was!!!”
Numerous other celebrities expressed their condolences following the shocking announcement of Keaton’s death, including her First Wives Club co-star Bette Midler, who conveyed how “deeply saddened” she was to lose such a “brilliant, beautiful, extraordinary” actress.
“She brought laughter, was a complete original, and was devoid of the competitiveness that one might expect from such a luminary,” Midler wrote on Instagram. “What you saw was exactly who she was…oh, la, lala!”
Ben Stiller hailed Keaton as “one of the greatest film actors of all time” via X, while Henry Winkler remembered her as “an incredibly gifted woman.”
“Now and then, a person arrives who utterly defies categorization,” expressed Keaton’s Mrs. Soffel co-star Matthew Modine on X. “They’re like a charming enigma. Sometimes they dig within themselves to uncover something unique hidden away, then miraculousness springs forth — which they keep to themselves. Diane embodied all that and more — all wrapped in that captivating smile, sharp wit, and irresistibly contagious laughter. Travel well, sister.”
Keaton’s extraordinary career lasted nearly six decades, which included winning the Academy Award for Best Actress for her lead role in 1977’s Annie Hall. She subsequently ventured into writing and filmmaking while continuing to star in beloved comedies up to the end of her life, with her last film being the 2024 comedy Summer Camp, featuring Kathy Bates and Alfre Woodard.
