Beloved Diane Keaton Passes Away at 79

Julia Forest

Copy Editor

Legend of the silver screen Diane Keaton passed away on Oct. 11 at the age of 79. People.com confirmed that she died due to pneumonia.

Keaton began her career acting on Broadway. She was in the original production of the musical “Hair” and played Linda Christie in “Play It Again, Sam”, which she later reprised in the 1972 film adaptation of the play.

One of Keaton’s first roles in film, which was Kay Adams in “The Godfather”, made her a household name in the early 1970s. She went on to act in many Woody Allen movies, including “Annie Hall”, “Manhattan”, “Radio Days”, and more. Keaton won the Oscar for Best Actress in 1978 for “Annie Hall”. She’s also known for her more serious roles, such as Louise Bryant in “Reds”.

Later in her career, she acted in lighthearted comedy and romantic comedy movies. The popular films “Father of the Bride”, “The First Wives Club”, which features the famous scene of Keaton singing “You Don’t Own Me” with Bette Midler and Goldie Hawn, and “Something’s Gotta Give” continued to make Keaton a successful actress. She won the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Comedy for “Something’s Gotta Give” in 2004. In her witty acceptance speech, she thanked the director Nancy Meyers by saying, “Let’s face it, getting to play a woman to love at 57 is like reaching for the stars with a step ladder, but I know I got lucky.”

She finished her career working on comedy films, highlighting that older women can play dynamic and powerful roles in movies. Her “Book Club” costar Jane Fonda reflected on Keaton in statement saying, “She was 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. And, though she didn’t know it or wouldn’t admit it, man she was a fine actress!”

By being a part of several beloved movies and playing multiple memorable characters, Diane Keaton’s life and career will continue to be remembered by many.