Diane Keaton, the Academy Award–winning actress celebrated for her wit, style, and iconic performances in Annie Hall, The Godfather, and The First Wives Club, has died at 79.
A family spokesperson confirmed Keaton’s death to PEOPLE, requesting privacy as loved ones grieve. No further details have been released.
From Broadway Dreams to The Godfather
Born Diane Hall in Los Angeles in 1946, Keaton was the eldest of four children. Her father was a civil engineer and her mother, Dorothy, was a homemaker with artistic ambitions that inspired Keaton’s creative path.
After briefly studying drama in college, she moved to New York City and adopted her mother’s maiden name when she learned another Diane Hall was already registered with Actors’ Equity. She landed her first major role as an understudy in Broadway’s Hair in 1968, followed by a Tony nomination for Play It Again, Sam in 1969.
Her film debut in Lovers and Other Strangers (1970) led to her breakout role as Kay Adams in The Godfather (1972). “I got cast to be in The Godfather and I didn’t even read it,” she told PEOPLE in 2022. The movie became a cultural phenomenon, earning Best Picture at the Academy Awards.
Annie Hall and the Birth of a Style Icon
Keaton won the Oscar for Best Actress in 1977 for her performance in Annie Hall, redefining not just romantic comedy but fashion itself. Her signature menswear, wide ties, vests, and tailored trousers, became a lasting symbol of individuality and gender-fluid expression.
“I just don’t like the way I look and sound,” she admitted early in her career, yet her natural authenticity and eccentric charm made her one of Hollywood’s most beloved stars.
A Career Defined by Range and Reinvention
Across five decades, Keaton built a filmography that balanced humor, heart, and vulnerability. She starred in Looking for Mr. Goodbar, Reds, Baby Boom, Father of the Bride, Something’s Gotta Give, and Book Club.
Her collaborations with director Nancy Meyers (Baby Boom, Father of the Bride, and Something’s Gotta Give) cemented her status as the queen of elegant romantic comedy. “Honestly, you can think it’s sappy, but I love the Father of the Bride movies,” she told Vulture in 2020.
In 1996, Keaton joined Goldie Hawn and Bette Midler in The First Wives Club, a film that became a feminist and queer favorite for its humor, resilience, and iconic final scene set to Lesley Gore’s “You Don’t Own Me.”
Later Life, Legacy, and Love on Her Own Terms
Keaton continued to work well into her 70s, appearing in The Family Stone, Finding Dory, Poms, and Book Club: The Next Chapter. She even starred in Justin Bieber’s 2021 music video “Ghost,” introducing her to a new generation of fans.
She never married, often reflecting on her independence. “I’m really glad I didn’t get married,” she told PEOPLE in 2019. “I’m an oddball.”
Keaton adopted two children, Dexter in 1996 and Duke in 2001, and called motherhood a decision born of reflection, not impulse.
In her later years, Keaton embraced Instagram, sharing personal memories, candid humor, and love for friends and colleagues. “Without acting, I would have been a misfit,” she said in 2019.
Diane Keaton is survived by her two children.
A Timeless Icon
From her gender-defying fashion to her fiercely independent spirit, Keaton’s influence transcended Hollywood. For many, especially within LGBTQ+ circles, her unapologetic authenticity and fluid sense of self made her a lifelong queer icon and serves as a reminder that style, wit, and heart never go out of fashion.
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