Diane Keaton, the Academy Award-winning actress has died in California at the age of 79, according to People.
Born Diane Hall in Los Angeles on January 5, 1946, Keaton grew up in Santa Ana as the eldest of four children. After leaving college to pursue acting, she moved to New York and adopted her mother’s maiden name when another “Diane Hall” was already registered with Actors’ Equity. Her early work on Broadway included Hair and Woody Allen’s Play It Again, Sam, the latter earning her a Tony nomination and launching a creative partnership that would shape the next decade of her career.
Keaton’s breakout film role came as Kay Adams in The Godfather (1972), followed by its acclaimed sequels, solidifying her as one of Hollywood’s most versatile actresses. But it was 1977’s Annie Hall—Allen’s unconventional romantic comedy—that turned her into a cultural icon. Her portrayal of the title character earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress and established her as a fashion trailblazer whose androgynous, menswear-inspired style became a nationwide phenomenon.
Across a five-decade career, Keaton balanced critically acclaimed dramas with box office successes. She received additional Oscar nominations for Reds (1981), Marvin’s Room (1996), and Something’s Gotta Give (2003), each role highlighting her ability to infuse vulnerability with intelligence and humor. Her beloved filmography also includes Baby Boom, Father of the Bride, The First Wives Club, and the Book Club films, among many others.
Behind the camera, Keaton was an accomplished director and producer. Her directing credits ranged from the documentary Heaven (1987) to the features Unstrung Heroes (1995) and Hanging Up (2000). She also produced projects including Gus Van Sant’s Elephant and the television drama Pasadena.
Beyond film, Keaton published several bestselling memoirs—Then Again, Let’s Just Say It Wasn’t Pretty, and Brother and Sister—and was an accomplished photographer and preservationist devoted to architectural restoration.
Keaton’s influence stretched far beyond acting. Her wit, eccentricity, and unapologetic individuality made her a role model for generations of women in Hollywood and beyond. She never married but often spoke candidly about her decision to remain single, her love of creative freedom, and her experiences as a mother. She adopted her daughter Dexter in 1996 and her son Duke in 2001, both of whom survive her.
With her signature hats, dry humor, and radiant authenticity, Diane Keaton leaves behind a legacy that shaped not only film but culture itself—a testament to a woman who never stopped evolving, laughing, or living life entirely on her own terms.