Hollywood is speechless. At the age of 79, Diane Keaton, the Oscar-winning actress whose unique aesthetic, comedic genius, and quirky charm made her a Hollywood icon, has passed away. Her family asked for privacy as they grieve, and People magazine confirmed the news. According to reports, her health “declined very suddenly,” surprising a lot of her friends and fans. Over the span of her five-decade career, Keaton made an eternal mark on cinema. The role she played of the neurotic yet endearing Annie Hall (for which she won an Academy Award in 1977) won her audience’s affection first.
Her work with Woody Allen (Sleeper, Love and Death, Manhattan, and Manhattan Murder Mystery) showed her maturity and creativity. The talents she had, though, went beyond romantic comedies! From Reds, Marvin’s Room, Something’s Gotta Give, and Book Club to The Godfather trilogy (in which she played Michael Corleone’s stubborn wife), Diane Keaton could make any role outstanding.
The response from Hollywood has been an influx of grief and admiration. Robert De Niro said to The Hollywood Reporter: “I was very fond of her and the news of her leaving us has taken me totally by surprise. I was not expecting her to leave (…) She will be missed. May she rest in peace.”
Meryl Streep called her as “our American treasure,” and added, “Crushing news that she is gone, but her smile and her style and antic spirit will live on (…) forever.”
Co-stars paid their respects to her, with Bette Midler describing her as “brilliant, beautiful, extraordinary (…) hilarious, and completely without guile.” She was “a spark of life and light, constantly giggling at her own foibles, being limitlessly creative,” according to Jane Fonda. “There was no one, nor will there ever be, anyone like her. I loved her and felt blessed to be her friend,” Mary Steenburgen said.
Rest in peace, Diane Keaton.
The Oscar winner’s spirit, humor, and heart lit up every film she touched — from “Annie Hall” and “The Godfather” to “The First Wives Club,” and “Father of the Bride.” She was a true Icon. Thank you, Diane, for a lifetime of unforgettable moments. pic.twitter.com/uwTSR3EbcO
— Variety (@Variety) October 11, 2025
On and off-screen, Diane Keaton was a strong figure. Her wide pants, menswear-inspired suits, turtlenecks, and hats, of course, set trends and showed off her assertive attitude. She also adopted two children (Dexter and Duke) and took care of her mother until she died in 2008. The same interest and eye for style caught up to her passion for photographs, architecture, and homes.
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Diane Keaton continued her work even in her final years of life. She made a holiday single in 2024, starred in Book Club: The Next Chapter in 2023, and kept up her social media contact with fans. Steve Martin recalled her playful banter on the Father of the Bride sets, saying that Keaton called him and Steve Martin “idiots.” Leonardo DiCaprio called her “brilliant, funny, and unapologetically herself.”
The legacy of Diane Keaton is enduring. She got audiences to think, laugh, and cry. She pushed generations of actors to embrace their individuality and gave women in movies a sense of exposure. To put it simply, she was special! Her performances, spirit, and style will live on forever, even though Hollywood and the rest of the world will miss Diane greatly.
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