Hollywood and fans worldwide are mourning the loss of legendary actress Diane Keaton, who died on Oct. 11 at age 79, as first reported by People.
According to the magazine, the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a call for medical assistance from Keaton’s home and transported a 79-year-old woman to the hospital. Her official cause of death has not yet been confirmed.
Tributes pour in online
Dozens of celebrities and fans across the globe have taken to social media to honor the beloved filmmaker and Oscar-winning actress.
Perhaps most notably, Woody Allen paid tribute through The Free Press.
Allen, who dated Keaton in the late 1960s, wrote, “As time went on I made movies for an audience of one, Diane Keaton. I never read a single review of my work and cared only what Keaton had to say about it.”
“If she liked it, I counted the film as an artistic success,” Allen continued. “If she was less than enthusiastic, I tried to use her criticism to reedit and come away with something she felt better about.”
Reflecting on their first meeting, Allen added, ”Unlike anyone the planet has experienced or is unlikely to ever see again, her face and laugh illuminated any space she entered."
“I first laid eyes on her lanky beauty at an audition and thought, If Huckleberry Finn was a gorgeous young woman, he’d be Keaton,” the actor continued.
Co-stars remember Keaton’s wit and originality
Keaton’s “Father of the Bride” co-stars Kimberly Williams-Paisley and Steve Martin also shared heartfelt tributes on Instagram.
“Diane, working with you will always be one of the great highlights of my life,” Williams-Paisley wrote.
Martin shared an article highlighting a humorous exchange between Diane Keaton and Martin Short and felt it captured their friendship perfectly.
Jane Fonda, who starred alongside Keaton in the “Book Club” films, remembered her on Instagram as “always a spark of life and light, constantly giggling at her own foibles, being limitlessly creative … in her acting, her wardrobe, her books, her friends, her homes, her library, her world view. Unique is what she was.”
Bette Midler, her “First Wives Club” co-star, shared on Instagram, “What you saw was who she was … oh, la, lala!”
Goldie Hawn added her own farewell: “Diane, we aren’t ready to lose you. You’ve left us with a trail of fairy dust, filled with particles of light and memories beyond imagination. How do we say goodbye?”
“You stole the hearts of the world and shared your genius with millions, making films that made us laugh and cry in ways only you could.”
Other stars including Viola Davis, Michael Douglas and Kate Hudson also shared memories of Keaton’s impact on their careers and the film industry.
Diane Keaton’s most iconic roles
‘Annie Hall’ (1977)
Keaton played the title role of Annie Hall, an aspiring nightclub singer navigating love and heartbreak with comedian Alvy Singer (Woody Allen). Her performance earned her an Oscar for best actress, cementing her place in cinematic history.
‘Father of the Bride’ (1991)
As Nina Banks, the loving, steady counterpart to Steve Martin’s anxious father, Keaton captured the heart of a generation of parents navigating the bittersweet joy of seeing their children grow up.
‘Baby Boom’ (1987)
Rated: PG-13
In this comedy, Keaton played J.C. Wiatt, a high-powered New York executive whose life is upended when she unexpectedly inherits a baby girl. Initially resistant, she soon embraces motherhood and reinvents her life in charming, unexpected ways.
‘Reds’ (1981)
Rated: PG
Based on a true story, Keaton portrayed Louise Bryant, an American writer and activist involved in the early socialist movement. Her performance earned her an Oscar nomination for best actress.
‘The First Wives Club’ (1996)
Rated: PG
Teaming up with Bette Midler and Goldie Hawn, Keaton delivered a masterclass in comedic timing and female camaraderie as one of three women seeking revenge after being left by their husbands.
Beyond these roles, Keaton delivered unforgettable performances in “The Godfather” trilogy, “Something’s Gotta Give,” “Marvin’s Room” and “Manhattan.”