Diane Keaton’s unexpected death at the age of 79 on Saturday, October 11 sent shockwaves through the world. When the news broke, a spokesperson for Keaton’s family released a statement saying that they had “no further details available at this time,” and asking for privacy “in this moment of great sadness.” Four days later, Keaton’s family has broken their silence, revealing Keaton’s cause of death.
“The Keaton family is very grateful for the extraordinary messages of love and support they have received in recent days on behalf of their beloved Diane, who died of pneumonia on October 11,” reads the statement, sent to People.
Keaton had kept a low profile in recent years, preferring to lead her life far from the spotlight, holed up in her California villa. Her health “deteriorated very suddenly”, a close friend told People on October 11th. “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 happening,” the same source said.
“She loved her animals and was an unwavering supporter of the homeless community,” continued the statement from Keaton’s family. “Any donation in her memory to a local food bank or animal shelter would therefore be a wonderful tribute that would be much appreciated.”
Keaton leaves behind a cinematic legacy spanning several decades. Her career was marked by her titular role in Woody Allen’ s Annie Hall, a film inspired by their past romance, which won her the Oscar for best actress in 1977. Keaton established herself as a film icon with indelible roles in Francis Ford Coppola’s Godfather trilogy, Warren Beatty‘s 1981 drama Reds, Charles Shyer‘s 1991 romantic comedy Father of the Bride, and Nancy Meyers‘s 2003 romantic comedy Something’s Gotta Give..
Over the course of her life, Keaton had a number of famous romances with stars including Allen, Beatty, and her Godfather husband Al Pacino. However, she preferred to lead the life of a single woman. “I don’t think it would have been a good idea for me to get married, and I’m really glad I didn’t,” she declared to People in 2019. She leaves behind her two children, Dexter and Duke, whom she adopted in 1996 and 2001.
Original story appeared in VF France.
