Robert De Niro leads tributes after Hollywood legend Diane Keaton’s death aged 79

Tributes are coming in for Diane Keaton, who has died aged 79 (Picture: Getty/Metro)

Oscar-winning actress Diane Keaton has died aged 79.

A family spokesperson confirmed she died in California. Further details have not been provided, and her loved ones have asked for privacy, per a statement to People.

She is survived by her two children Dexter and Duke Keaton.

The late screen star is best known for her roles in classic movies such as The Godfather and Annie Hall, for which she won an Academy Award in 1977.

Tributes have started pouring in from across Hollywood.

Robert De Niro, who worked with Keaton on The Godfather Part II and Marvin’s Room, said he was ‘very sad to hear of Diane’s passing’.

The iconic actress was catapulted into stardom after appearing in The Godfather (Picture: Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock)

He continued: ‘I was very fond of her, and the news of her leaving us has taken me totally by surprise. I was not expecting her to leave us. She will be missed. May she rest in peace,’ per Deadline.

Bette Midler, who starred alongside Keaton in The First Wives Club, wrote on Instagram: ‘The brilliant, beautiful, extraordinary Diane Keaton has died. I cannot tell you how unbearably sad this makes me.

‘She was hilarious, a complete original, and completely without guile, or any of the competitiveness one would have expected from such a star. What you saw was who she was…oh, la, lala!’

Ben Stiller wrote on X: ‘Diane Keaton. One of the greatest film actors ever. An icon of style, humour and comedy. Brilliant. What a person.’

Director Paul Feig shared: ‘I was so honoured to call Diane Keaton a friend. She was an amazingly kind and creative person who also just happened to be a Hollywood legend. She has been taken from us far too soon. We will miss you, Diane.’

Co-stars from across the years, such as Bette Midler, are paying tribute (Picture: Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock)

Kimberley Williams-Paisley, who played Keaton’s daughter in Father of the Bride, called her ‘one of a kind, and it was thrilling to be in your orbit for a time’

In a statement to People, Book Club co-star Mary Steenburge declared her ‘magic’.

‘There was no one, nor will there ever be, anyone like her. I loved her and felt blessed to be her friend. My love to her family. What a wonder she was!!!,’ she said.

Elizabeth Perkins called her a ‘national treasure’ who was ‘complex, eccentric and so gifted’.

Meanwhile, Octavia Spencer paid tribute, saying she ‘wasn’t just an actress: she was a force. a woman who showed us that being yourself is the most powerful thing you can be.’

Luke Evans praised her as a ‘shining independent spirit’ while Josh Gad dubbed her ‘one of the most humble, ruthlessly funny and unbelievably talented human beings.’

Mandy Moore, who played her daughter in the 2007 rom-com Because I Said So, said she was ‘one of the best to ever do it’.

Her career spanned over 50 years (Picture: Glasshouse Images/Shutterstock)

Discussing her final weeks, a source shared with People: ‘She declined very suddenly, which was heartbreaking for everyone who loved her.

‘It was so unexpected, especially for someone with such strength and spirit. In her final months, she was surrounded only by her closest family, who chose to keep things very private. Even longtime friends weren’t fully aware of what was.’

Diane Keaton’s acclaimed career

Keaton was born Diane Hall in Los Angeles in 1946, and she started her career on Broadway in the late 1960s, scooping up a Tony nomination for her role in Woody Allen’s play Play it Again, Sam.

After her silver screen debut in Lovers and Other Strangers in 1970, her breakout happened when Francis Ford Coppola cast her as Kay Adams – the love interest of Al Pacino’s Michael Corleone – in 1972’s The Godfather, which won Best Picture.

Keaton won an Oscar for Annie Hall in 1977 (Picture: Rollins-Joffe/United Artists/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock)

She went on to appear in the full trilogy between the 70s and 90s – all three of which received critical acclaim.

Recalling how she landed the role with Coppola in 2021, she said: ‘The first time we met was at the audition for The Godfather. I got the part but didn’t understand why. I knew nothing about the book.

‘And I remember that the studio didn’t want Al Pacino. So you put us up on the stage together, and we auditioned together for Al’s sake, because I’d already gotten the part.

‘You came up to me at a certain point while we were onstage together and said: “What do you think of Al?” And I said: “I think he’s great.” And that’s what you thought, too, but you wanted to know what I thought.’

Her other beloved movies include The First Wives Club, Father Of The Bride, The Family Stone and the Book Club movies.

In recent years, Keaton appeared in the Book Club franchise (Picture: Focus Features) She secured four Oscar nominations and one win during her career (Picture: Glasshouse Images/Shutterstock)

Keaton and director Allen collaborated on several movies after Annie Hall – where she played his love interest – including 1978’s Interiors, 1979’s Manhattan and 1993’s Manhattan Murder Mystery.

After sexual abuse allegations came out against the prolific filmmaker which he has denied, she defended him, telling The Guardian in 2023: ‘He was great. He was everything, and he remains [so] to me.’ 

The actress – renowned for her distinctive, trailblazing style – secured three more Oscar nominations during her career for 1981’s Reds, 1996’s Marvin’s Room and 2003’s Something’s Gotta Give.

In recent years, the rom-com star has maintained a varied career, appearing in Justin Bieber’s music video Ghost and in 2024 releasing her first Holiday single, First Christmas.

The actor has been candid about the influence of her mother on her career (Picture: Agency/NurPhoto/Shutterstock)

After an over 50-year career, she reflected on her cinematic legacy to Metro in 2023 – remaining humble throughout.

‘I’ll not get carried away with that. It’s not true, I am not a screen icon, but I have had the pleasure of acting in movies,’ she said at the time.

The actor was heavily inspired by her mother, Dorothy Hall, who died after an Alzheimer’s diagnosis in 2008.

As she recalled in her memoir, Then Again: ‘They announced [my mother’s] name and she was crowned Mrs. Highland Park and the curtain opened and then there was this cornucopia of gifts….

‘And all I remember was I wanted to be on that stage. It really did define the fact that I was going to definitely go into the performing arts.’

In her personal life, Keaton had several high-profile relationships, including with former co-stars Allen and Pacino, as well as Warren Beatty, among others.

She never married, telling People when she was 73: ‘I don’t think it would have been a good idea for me to have married, and I’m really glad I didn’t, and I’m sure they’re happy about it, too.’

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