Oscar-winning actress Diane Keaton dies at age 79
Diane Keaton, the Oscar-winning actress who starred in “Annie Hall” and “The Godfather,” has died at the age of 79, People and the New York Times have reported.
Hollywood is in mourning following the death of legendary actress Diane Keaton.
The Oscar winner, whose acting career dates back to the 1960s, has died at the age of 79, according to People magazine and the New York Times.
The Los Angeles native has worked with some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, including her “Book Club” co-star Mary Steenburgen, whom she admires.
“Diane was magical. There was and will never be anyone like her. I loved her and felt blessed to be her friend. Her love for her family. What a magical person she was,” Steenburgen wrote in a statement shared with USA TODAY.
Candice Bergen said her “Book Club” co-star’s death was a huge loss for her and the world.
“Diane was a true artist. She was extremely talented and unique in so many areas, but she was also modest and amazingly eccentric. She will be sorely missed,” Bergen said in a statement shared with USA TODAY.
Jane Fonda, who also starred in the Book Club series, remembered Keaton as “a ray of life and light, constantly laughing at his own flaws.”
“She was unique,” Fonda wrote on Instagram. “And she didn’t know it or wouldn’t admit it, but oh, she was a great actress!”
“Hocus Pocus” actress Bette Midler praised her “First Wives Club” co-star on Instagram, calling her “amazing, beautiful, amazing.”
“Words cannot express how unbearably sad this is. She was hilarious, completely original, and had none of the malice or competitiveness you would expect from a star like this,” Midler wrote. “What you saw was her true identity…Oh, la-la-la!”
“First Wives Club” co-star Goldie Hawn emotionally wrote, “Diane, we are not ready to lose you.”
She recalled that Keaton “didn’t like being praised and was very humble, but I can’t say ‘shut up’ now, honey. There never was anyone like you and there never will be anyone like you…I’m going to miss you so much.”
‘The Woman King’ star Viola Davis is distraught over the loss of a figure who “defined femininity”.
Davis posted on Instagram, “No!! No!! No!! God, no yet, no!! Man…” “The pathos, the humor, the lightness, your ever-present youth and vulnerability. You put your soul into every role, making it impossible to imagine anyone else inhabiting the role. You were definitely, unapologetically you!!! Love you, man…rest in peace. God bless your family and I know the angels are walking you home.”
“Father of the Bride” family speaks
Keaton’s Father of the Bride co-stars Kimberly Williams-Paisley and Steve Martin also paid tribute.
Williams-Paisley, who played Keaton’s daughter in the classic 1991 film, called her experience with her on-screen mother “one of the highlights of my life.”
“You are one of a kind and I was thrilled to have you in my orbit at one point. Thank you for your kindness, generosity, talent, and most of all your laughter,” she wrote on Instagram.
Meanwhile, Martin, who played her husband, shared an excerpt from an Interview magazine article in which Martin Short asked Keaton who was sexier and Keaton replied, “I mean, they’re both idiots.”
“I don’t know who originally posted this, but it sums up my fun relationship with Diane,” Martin wrote on Instagram.
Reese Witherspoon, Mandy Moore, Leonardo DiCaprio and more react
“Legally Blonde” star Reese Witherspoon paid a two-minute tribute to one of the first mentors of her career at Hello Sunshine’s Shine Away event in Los Angeles.
She said that when she was 15 years old, she auditioned for the 1991 television movie Wildflowers, directed by Keaton. Witherspoon said Keaton couldn’t believe her country accent and hired her on the spot.
“From ‘Annie Hall’ to ‘The Godfather’ to ‘Something’s Gotta Give,’ she’s just an incredibly unforgettable, truly original person. So for Diane, go watch her movies, wear really cool, interesting clothes, in black and white. Take cool photos, and just live the dream. I think Diane would be really happy if she was unique and interesting,” Witherspoon told the crowd.
Mandy Moore, who played Keaton’s daughter in the 2007 comedy Because I Said So, said it was an honor to call Keaton “Mommy” on set.
“Once in a lifetime honor. What an incandescent human being Di was. We will be so sad to see her go for all sorts of reasons, but also because we felt like she would be here forever and dazzle us with her talent and charm (and her style)!!! One of the best jobs ever. My love to her children and loved ones,” Moore wrote.
Other Hollywood responses included Leonardo DiCaprio, Rosie O’Donnell, Nia Vardalos and Cynthia Nixon.
“Diane Keaton was one of a kind,” DiCaprio wrote about his Marvin’s Room co-star on his Instagram Story, sharing a vintage photo of himself with Keaton. “Wonderful, funny, and unapologetically herself. A legend, an icon, and a truly kind human being.”
Nixon said, “When I was a kid, Diane Keaton was my absolute idol. I loved her acting. I loved her vibe. I loved everything about her. I tried to dress like her since I was 12. I wore my hair long. She wore a hat and vest and book-like glasses (though her eyes were fine) because I thought she looked more like Diane Keaton.A little over 10 years ago, she was cast in a movie called Five. Flying up with her was like a dream come true. I was very shy around her, but I think she liked me, and that meant everything to me. ”
O’Donnell wrote, “Oh, this breaks my heart. Her love for her children, her style, her grace, I will miss her so much.”
Luke Evans wrote: “Such a sad day. Rest in peace #DianeKeaton. Such a wonderful actor and a loving person with a kind heart and a brilliantly independent spirit.”
Vardalos wrote, “Grace. Style. Talent. Above all, a comedy gal who set the bar high for all of us who came after her. Rest in peace sweet and funny Diane Keaton. Reposting a photo from my friend’s icon page.”
Josh Gad said, “Diane Keaton has defined my love of movies in many ways, from Annie Hall to The Godfather movies, from The First Wives Club to Baby Boom, from Father of the Bride to Somebody’s Gotta.” Until Gibb, her resume here is truly iconic and worthy of a Hall of Famer. I was very fortunate to work with her on an unproduced pilot for HBO many years ago, and what I found was the most humbling and brutally funny. These are some of the most incredibly talented people I have ever met.”
Fashion designer Zac Posen wrote, “Diane Keaton is gone. I only knew her through the light she gave on screen, and I will deeply miss that light.”
Actor and playwright Jeremy O. Harris wrote, “My condolences to Diane Keaton, America’s most gracious, elegant, and fiercely talented muse. She remained self-aware throughout her many roles, which reminded me as a young performer that the most interesting people are the many facets of themselves.”
Broadcaster Piers Morgan wrote: “Rest in peace Diane Keaton, 79 years old. Wonderful in films like The Godfather and Father of the Bride, Oscar-winning actress for Annie Hall. One of Hollywood’s greatest actresses and a funny woman. Sad news.”
Melissa Gilbert said, “People often ask me who my idol is and I’ve never answered honestly because I was hoping our paths would cross again (we did once when I was 17) and that she’s my idol. I didn’t want her to know…so much that I thought I’d burst out and say something embarrassing…I kept it to myself so that if we ever met, she wouldn’t know in advance what a fool I was.”
Contributor: Kim Willis
