Diane Keaton, the Oscar-winning actor, director, author, and fashion icon whose singular voice and idiosyncratic style made her one of the most beloved figures in American cinema, has died at the age of 79.

News of her death was confirmed Saturday, Oct. 11, by her daughter Dexter Keaton White, who asked for privacy on behalf of the family and declined further comment.

A cause of death has not yet been made public. Multiple outlets, including People, The New York Times, CNN, and ABC News, reported that the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a medical call at Keaton’s home and later transported an individual to the hospital. However, no further details have been released, and Keaton’s representatives have not responded to requests for comment as of Saturday evening.

Keaton’s death sent shockwaves through Hollywood and beyond, with tributes pouring in for the actor, who won an Oscar for her role in 1977’s Annie Hall and appeared in some of the most acclaimed and beloved films of the 20th and 21st centuries, from The Godfather to The First Wives Club to Something’s Gotta Give.

A Career That Spanned Generations

Diane Keaton began her journey to stardom in the late 1960s, eventually becoming one of the most defining actors of her generation. Her work ranged from powerful drama to breezy romantic comedy, always delivered with her trademark mix of intelligence, humor, and heart.

She first made a name for herself in 1968 as part of the original Broadway cast of Play It Again, Sam, written by and co-starring Woody Allen, with whom Keaton would later collaborate on numerous films. She reprised her role in the film version in 1972.

That same year, she stunned audiences as Kay Adams, the gentle moral counterpoint to Michael Corleone, in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather. Her portrayal carried through the trilogy and earned her a lasting place in cinematic history.

But it was Annie Hall (1977) that catapulted her to international fame. Her performance as the charming, neurotic, and hopelessly lovable title character earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress, and helped redefine what a leading lady could look and sound like in American film.

A Master of Reinvention

Keaton’s career was marked by reinvention. She defied being boxed in as anyone’s muse and went on to earn Oscar nominations for Reds (1981), Marvin’s Room (1996), and Something’s Gotta Give (2003).

Whether she was playing the doting mother of the bride alongside Steve Martin in Father of the Bride (1991, and its 1995 sequel), or romping through midlife mischief in The First Wives Club (1996) with Goldie Hawn and Bette Midler, Keaton brought nuance to roles that could’ve easily been played for surface laughs.

In 2018, she charmed a new generation of moviegoers with Book Club, a feel-good comedy co-starring Jane Fonda, Mary Steenburgen, and Candice Bergen, which earned a sequel in 2023.

Keaton also stepped behind the camera throughout her career, directing films like Wildflower (1991), which starred a then-unknown Reese Witherspoon, and Hanging Up (2000), in which she also starred alongside Meg Ryan and Lisa Kudrow.

Her Final Projects

According to her IMDb profile, Keaton’s final film roles were in 2024’s Arthur’s Whisky and Summer Camp. She also had three other projects listed as in pre-production, including The Making Of, a star-studded comedy with Richard Gere, Blake Lively, and Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Fans and industry insiders alike have expressed sadness not just over her death, but over the silence surrounding the circumstances.

As of Saturday evening, no cause of death has been released, and it remains unclear whether additional information will be made public in the coming days.

Keaton’s Final Posts and Public Life

The last public glimpse fans had of Keaton came via social media. Her final Instagram post, shared on April 11, was a tribute to National Pet Day, featuring her golden retriever Reggie and a note that read:

“Proof our pets have great taste too! Happy National Pet Day from HG & @diane_keaton.”

Prior to that, her January post supported victims of the Palisades Fire in California.

Though never one to live online, Keaton’s rare posts gave fans brief but endearing looks at her life—whether she was showing off her garden, her dogs, or her signature oversized hats.

Private by Choice

Keaton never married and often joked about it. She was famously linked to Al Pacino, Woody Allen, and Warren Beatty, but ultimately chose a life of independence.

In a 2019 interview with People, she said:

“I’m really glad I didn’t [marry], and I’m sure they’re happy about it too.”

She adopted two children—daughter Dexter and son Duke—in her 50s and credited motherhood with changing her life.

Tributes From Her Co-Stars

News of her death has prompted an outpouring of love from her peers.

Bette Midler called Keaton “a complete original” and “brilliant, beautiful, and extraordinary.”

Goldie Hawn, her co-star in The First Wives Club, posted:

“Diane, we aren’t ready to lose you… You stole the hearts of the world and shared your genius with millions.”

Meryl Streep, her co-star in Marvin’s Room, wrote in a statement:

“Diane was our American treasure—indelible, singular girl and brilliant artist… her spirit will live on in film and in our hearts forever.”

Candice Bergen said Keaton was “tremendously gifted and wonderfully eccentric.”

Jane Fonda described her as “a spark of life and light… constantly giggling at her own foibles, being limitlessly creative.”

Viola Davis, in an emotional post, wrote:

“You defined womanhood. You tattooed your soul into every role… You were undeniably, unapologetically YOU.”

Remembering a Legacy

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences honored her with a moving tribute:

“Diane Keaton embodied the contradictions of being human: funny and fragile, bright and bruised, always achingly honest. For decades, she filled every frame with warmth, wit, and wonder.”

Keaton’s iconic style—blazers, bowler hats, slouchy trousers—became as much a part of her legacy as her roles. Her ability to combine fashion, feminism, and vulnerability on screen helped change how women were portrayed in film.

As Sarah Jessica Parker put it:

“Her cinematic career is a gorgeous legacy of an exquisite person… She will be terribly missed.”

Closing Thoughts

Though the world still awaits confirmation of the cause of Diane Keaton’s death, the legacy she leaves behind is clear.

She redefined what it meant to be a leading woman in Hollywood. She made room for eccentricity, intellect, and imperfection in a business that often demands polish.

She inspired generations—not just as an actor, but as a woman who lived life on her own terms.

For now, fans and fellow artists are left to mourn, to revisit her many brilliant performances, and to hope for clarity in the days to come.

Until then, we remember her in the way she might have liked best:

Laughing. In a great hat. With a dog by her side.