Diane Keaton, the legendary actress known for her Oscar-winning role in “Annie Hall” and her iconic performances in “The Godfather” and “The First Wives Club,” has died at age 79.
Keaton’s death was confirmed by Dori Rath, a producer who worked with her.
No other information was immediately available about the cause of death. The Los Angeles Fire Department said it responded to a medical call to Keaton’s home in Brentwood at 8:08 a.m. local time Saturday and took a patient to the hospital.
Keaton rose to fame in the 1970s with her role as Kay Adams in the “Godfather” films and her acclaimed collaborations with director Woody Allen, including “Play It Again, Sam,” “Sleeper” and “Annie Hall,” the latter earning her an Academy Award for Best Actress in 1978.
Known for her offbeat humor and timeless fashion sense, she starred in a string of hits that spanned generations, from “Baby Boom” and “Father of the Bride” to “The First Wives Club,” “Something’s Gotta Give” and the “Book Club” franchise.
Actress Diane Keaton arrives at the world premiere of Twentieth Century Fox’s “The Family Stone” at the Mann Village Theater on December 6, 2005 in Westwood, California.
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images, FILE
Born Diane Hall in Los Angeles in 1946, Keaton was the eldest of four children. She studied acting at New York’s Neighborhood Playhouse before making her Broadway debut in “Hair.” Beyond acting, Keaton was a director, producer, photographer, and best-selling author.
In 2020, Keaton sat down with ABC News’ Juju Chang in an interview that aired on “Good Morning America,” where he revealed details of his complicated relationship with his brother, Randy, and his struggles with mental illness and alcohol.
“When I look back on Randy, I think, wow, I wish I could have been a better sister,” Keaton told ABC News.
In another ABC News interview in 2022, Keaton said she had been “very fortunate to have a lot of opportunities that came my way” and when asked what she would tell her 30-year-old self, she responded that she “wouldn’t.”
“What made my life interesting was that I had freedom. You know, that I had the opportunity to make my decisions over time,” Keaton told ABC News’ Will Reeve in 2022.
Reaction to Keaton’s death came from celebrities, including his “Father of the Bride” co-star Kimberly Williams-Paisley, who said working with Keaton was “one of the best moments of my life.”
Richard Dreyfuss and Diane Keaton pose with their Oscars at the 50th Annual Academy Awards, April 3, 1978.
ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images
“You are unique and it was exciting to be in your orbit for a while. Thank you for your kindness, your generosity, your talent and, most of all, your laughter,” Williams-Paisley wrote in an Instagram post honoring Keaton.
Actress Mary Steenburgen described Keaton as “magical.”
“There was and will be no one like her. I loved her and felt blessed to be her friend. My love to her family. How wonderful she was!!!” Steenburgen wrote in a statement.
Keaton is survived by her two sons, Dexter, 29, and Duke, 25. She last posted on her public Instagram on April 11, sharing a photo with her beloved Golden Retriever, Reggie.
