Just weeks before Diane Keaton passed away, her longtime friend saw signs few others noticed. What she recalls now is a moving tribute to a woman who never stopped shining.

Diane Keaton was never the kind of actress you could easily summarize. For over five decades, she was a symbol of individuality in Hollywood — effortlessly cool, unshakably herself, and always, always unforgettable.

She wore oversized hats and structured jackets while others chased trends. She played quirky heroines while others chased glamour. And she filled every room she entered — whether on screen or off — with the kind of presence that’s impossible to fake.

But even the brightest lights can flicker.

Just two to three weeks before her passing on October 11 at the age of 79, one of Keaton’s closest friends, songwriter Carole Bayer Sager, noticed something different during their last visit.

A Moment of Connection Before Goodbye

“I saw her two or three weeks ago, and she was very thin,” Sager told PEOPLE in an exclusive interview. “She had lost so much weight.”

For Sager — a Grammy- and Oscar-winning songwriter whose own career has spanned decades — the moment was as unexpected as it was emotional.

Sager had known Diane not just as a Hollywood icon, but as a creative peer and a personal confidante. The two shared a deep friendship, and even collaborated on Keaton’s only solo single, “First Christmas,” released in late 2024.

Their relationship wasn’t built on red carpet appearances or tabloid moments. It was built on creativity, humor, and an unspoken understanding between two women who knew the price of a life lived in the spotlight.

Displaced by Wildfires, But Never Dimmed

According to Sager, part of their reduced contact in 2025 was due to the California wildfires in January, which damaged Keaton’s Los Angeles home. Diane temporarily relocated to Palm Springs while her house underwent repairs.

“She had to go to Palm Springs because her house had been damaged inside, and they had to clean everything,” Sager explained. “She was down there for a while, and when she came back, I was kind of stunned by how much weight she’d lost.”

Despite the change in appearance, Sager said Diane remained her radiant, lively self.

“She was a magic light for everyone,” she said. “I just loved her. She was so special. She just lit up a room with her energy.”

A Life of Creativity — Right to the End

In her final months, Keaton hadn’t slowed down creatively. According to Sager, she was still enthusiastically documenting life through photography — a longtime hobby that matched her unique view of the world.

“She was happy and upbeat and taking photographs of everything she saw,” said Sager. “She was completely creative; she never stopped creating.”

It was this same passion that carried through their musical collaboration. “First Christmas” wasn’t just another project for Keaton — it was something deeply personal.

“She so loved recording that song,” Sager recalled. “She was almost childlike about it.”

“She just sang it like she was singing it — she was sort of acting it, you know, because she is a great actress. And then she’d start to cry while singing it.”

Keaton’s performance on the track was simple, honest, and full of warmth — much like the woman herself.

Style, Spirit, and That Signature Keaton Charm

For many fans, Diane Keaton’s on-screen performances were only half the story. Off-screen, she was a fashion icon entirely of her own making.

Sager remembered how Diane would show up to movie nights and gatherings wearing full looks — as if every day were an opportunity to express herself.

“She’d wear her hats and her jackets and her baggy pants, and her belts,” Sager said, smiling at the memory. “She went to the movies always dressed like she was about to shoot another scene for Annie Hall.”

That consistency, that sense of fun and elegance, never faded.

A Quiet Circle, A Loud Impact

While Diane Keaton spent much of her life in the public eye, those who knew her say she kept her closest relationships protected.

“In these last few years, she kept a close circle,” a film executive told PEOPLE. “And she liked it that way.”

Still, she never lost her signature humor and charm.

“She was funny right up until the end,” the executive added. “She had this way of making even ordinary moments feel special. That was just who she was.”

Tributes from Those Who Knew Her Best

After her passing, fellow performers and close friends shared emotional tributes. Actress Bette Midler praised Keaton’s originality and warmth in a public statement:

“She was hilarious, a complete original, and completely without guile,” Midler said. “What you saw was who she was.”

Songwriter and producer Jonas Myrin, who co-wrote “First Christmas” with Sager and Keaton, described the project as one of the most heartfelt he’d ever worked on.

“She brought everything she had into that song,” he said in an earlier interview. “It wasn’t just a recording. It was a story, a memory, a feeling.”

A Lasting Legacy

Diane Keaton’s contributions to film, fashion, and culture are beyond debate. From Kay Adams in The Godfather to the iconic Annie Hall, from her comedic turns in Father of the Bride to her more recent roles in films like Book Club, she shaped what it meant to be a leading lady who didn’t fit the mold — and made that her greatest asset.

She never married, choosing instead to focus on her passions and her family, which included two adopted children, Dexter and Duke.

And while she often joked about being a “loner” or “awkward,” what friends like Carole Bayer Sager saw was someone incredibly alive — full of curiosity, creativity, and compassion.

Remembering the Light, Not the Loss

The shock of Diane Keaton’s passing is still fresh for fans and friends alike. But what remains most vivid isn’t the moment of goodbye — it’s the life that came before it.

It’s her laugh during a late-night talk show appearance. Her tearful singing in a small recording studio. Her wide-eyed smile when showing off a new photo she’d taken.

It’s the way she moved through the world — not needing to shout, not needing to follow, but simply being Diane Keaton.

In her final visit with Sager, that essence hadn’t changed. And maybe that’s the real takeaway.

“She was very thin,” Sager said again. “But she was still Diane. Still bright. Still creative. Still full of love.”

Final Thoughts

In a world where fame often feels fleeting and celebrity can seem manufactured, Diane Keaton was something different: Real.

Her style wasn’t just about clothes — it was about identity. Her humor wasn’t scripted — it was soul-deep. And her legacy? It’s more than a body of work. It’s a body of love, laughter, and the kind of authenticity that reminds us what greatness actually looks like.

She may be gone, but the light she left — in her roles, her photos, her friendships — will never fade.

Rest in peace, Diane. You truly were one of a kind.