The beloved Oscar-winning actress left an indelible mark on American film. No cause of death has been released.

Diane Keaton, the legendary actress known for her Oscar-winning turn in Annie Hall, her iconic performance as Kay Corleone in The Godfather trilogy, and her fearless sense of style and humor, has died at the age of 79.

A family spokesperson confirmed Keaton’s passing at her home in California to People on Saturday. No cause of death has been disclosed, and her family has asked for privacy during this time. Emergency responders from the Los Angeles Fire Department were reportedly called to her home for a medical incident earlier in the day, but no official details have been made public.

The lack of an immediate explanation has left fans, colleagues, and the film community both heartbroken and stunned. As tributes continue to pour in from around the world, so too does the question: What happened to one of the most beloved and enduring figures in American entertainment?

What remains certain is that Diane Keaton’s legacy lives on in every frame she graced—and in every heart she touched.

A Singular Talent

Born Diane Hall on January 5, 1946, in Los Angeles, she later adopted her mother’s maiden name, Keaton, and went on to redefine the modern movie heroine. She was equal parts relatable and untouchable: a tomboy in trousers, a romantic with a raised eyebrow, a symbol of elegance who never seemed like she was trying too hard.

Keaton first gained national attention as the quirky love interest in Woody Allen’s Play It Again, Sam—a role she originated on stage in 1969 and brought to film three years later. But her breakout role came in The Godfather (1972), when Francis Ford Coppola cast her as Kay Adams, the reserved but moral center of the Corleone family. She reprised the role in The Godfather Part II and Part III, grounding the crime saga in a haunting humanity that elevated her beyond the traditional “mob wife” archetype.

In a 2023 interview, Coppola reflected on his decision to cast Keaton, saying, “There was something more about you, deeper, funnier, and very interesting… I was right.”

Annie Hall and an Oscar

It was 1977’s Annie Hall that made Keaton a cultural touchstone. Her performance as the delightfully offbeat title character in Allen’s semi-autobiographical romantic comedy won her an Academy Award for Best Actress, as well as BAFTA and Golden Globe honors.

The film not only launched Keaton into superstardom—it also helped shape the modern romantic comedy. Her layered, vulnerable, and utterly disarming performance broke with tradition. She wasn’t the perfectly polished dream girl—she was Annie: awkward, smart, funny, and emotionally honest.

Keaton herself remained modest about the character’s popularity. “I’m very involved in expressing myself. Hopefully, I’m not a fool for doing it. Hopefully, there’s some merit in it,” she said in a 1977 Rolling Stone interview.

A Lifelong Love Affair with Film

Following Annie Hall, Keaton enjoyed a steady rise as one of the most bankable and critically respected stars of the 1980s and ’90s. She earned Oscar nominations for her roles in Reds (1981), Marvin’s Room (1996), and Something’s Gotta Give (2003), where she starred opposite Jack Nicholson in a late-in-life romantic comedy that helped redefine what stories Hollywood could tell about older women.

Keaton teamed frequently with director Nancy Meyers on comedies that showcased her warmth and natural comedic timing, including Father of the Bride (1991) and its 1995 sequel, Because I Said So (2007), and of course Something’s Gotta Give.

She became a comedy icon in The First Wives Club (1996), joining Goldie Hawn and Bette Midler as a trio of scorned women who find empowerment—and musical harmony—in the aftermath of divorce. Her performance helped define a new era of midlife on-screen feminism.

More recently, she starred in Book Club (2018) and its 2023 sequel Book Club: The Next Chapter, alongside Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, and Mary Steenburgen. The success of the film proved that audiences were still eager to see women over 60 as leads, friends, and romantic beings.

Directing, Writing, and Living with Style

Keaton wasn’t just a performer—she was a storyteller. In the 1980s and beyond, she directed films and television episodes, including the music video for Belinda Carlisle’s “Heaven Is a Place on Earth” and an episode of Twin Peaks. She also helmed the 1987 documentary Heaven, the 1995 film Unstrung Heroes, and the ensemble dramedy Hanging Up (2000), in which she starred with Meg Ryan and Lisa Kudrow.

Her writing included several memoirs and photo books, including Then Again, Let’s Just Say It Wasn’t Pretty, and Brother & Sister, a deeply personal reflection on her family and her brother Randy’s struggle with mental illness.

A lifelong lover of architecture and design, Keaton renovated dozens of homes in Southern California, often featured in design publications. Her distinct aesthetic—black turtlenecks, oversized suits, men’s hats—became as famous as her roles.

A Personal Life on Her Own Terms

Keaton never married, though her romantic history included famous partners like Al Pacino, Warren Beatty, and Woody Allen. Instead, she built her family on her terms, adopting two children, Dexter and Duke, in her 50s.

In recent interviews, she expressed joy about her path. “I’m really glad I didn’t [marry],” she told People in 2019. “I don’t think it would have been a good idea for me, and I’m sure they’re happy about it too.”

Though fiercely private, Keaton was also deeply funny and self-effacing. “I don’t act. I am just who I am,” she once told director Rob Reiner.

Her Final Years

At the time of her death, Keaton was still active professionally. In 2024, she starred in two films—Arthur’s Whisky and Summer Camp—and had several other projects in various stages of development. She also continued her public-facing work, collaborating with brands like J.Crew and appearing in a memorable 2021 Justin Bieber music video.

Her last social media post, made on April 11, celebrated National Pet Day with a video of her dog Reggie. It was a quintessentially Keaton moment: light-hearted, full of love, and authentically her.

Tributes and Silence

As news broke of her passing, tributes poured in from her co-stars and admirers across generations.

Bette Midler called her “a complete original,” while Goldie Hawn mourned, “Diane, we aren’t ready to lose you.” Meryl Streep referred to her as “our American treasure,” and Viola Davis wrote, “You tattooed your soul into every role.”

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences released a statement calling her “funny and fragile, bright and bruised, always achingly honest.”

And yet, for all the outpouring of love, questions linger. As of this writing, no cause of death has been revealed, and no further comment has been provided by family or representatives.

A Life Fully Lived

In a 2012 interview with AARP, Keaton said, “The best part is that I’m still here—and because the end is in sight, I treasure it all more.”

Diane Keaton is no longer here in body, but her spirit—free, bold, and one-of-a-kind—endures.

Her voice will echo in Kay’s final plea to Michael Corleone. Her laugh will ring through every scene of Annie Hall. And her legacy, like her style, will never go out of fashion.

Though we may never know exactly what led to her death, we will always know what she gave us in life: truth, beauty, vulnerability, and joy.

Rest in peace, Diane Keaton. You never just played the part—you were the story.