Oscar-winning actress, Diane Keaton, is dead

American actress Diane Keaton, celebrated for her Academy Award-winning role in Annie Hall and her memorable performances in The Godfather trilogy, has passed away at the age of 79, according to People magazine.

The magazine reported on Saturday that Keaton died in California. A family spokesperson confirmed the news, requesting privacy as loved ones mourn her passing.

Keaton rose to fame in the 1970s through her collaborations with director Woody Allen, most notably portraying the title character in Annie Hall—Allen’s romantic comedy that also earned Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay. The role established Keaton as both a top-tier actress and an enduring style icon.

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Over the years, she appeared in eight of Allen’s films, beginning with Play It Again, Sam (1972) and including Manhattan (1979) and Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993).

In 2018, as Hollywood confronted the wave of sexual harassment allegations that began with Harvey Weinstein, renewed scrutiny fell on Allen following resurfaced accusations by his adoptive daughter Dylan. Keaton stood by the director at the time, writing on X (formerly Twitter), “Woody Allen is my friend and I continue to believe him.”

A recipient of both BAFTA and Golden Globe awards, Keaton received three additional Oscar nominations for Reds, Marvin’s Room, and Something’s Gotta Give.

Her portrayal of Kay Adams—the girlfriend and later wife of Al Pacino’s Michael Corleone—in The Godfather films remains one of her most iconic performances.

In later years, Keaton took on roles that explored the complexities of ageing, including Book Club (2018) and Poms (2019). The latter follows Martha, a terminally ill woman who forms a cheerleading squad in a retirement community.

Speaking about ageing in a 2019 interview with AFP, Keaton reflected, “I think so, because what have you got to lose? It’s like it’s the truth. That’s what it is. You face it, we talk about it.”

Born Diane Hall on January 5, 1946, in Los Angeles, Keaton was romantically linked to Woody Allen, Al Pacino, and Warren Beatty but never married.

“Most people in the movies get married at some point, and then they divorce. But I’ve never even got married. I am (a) failure,” she joked in the same interview.

When asked if she regretted it, she replied, “I don’t think about it a lot, but I’m aware of the fact that I’m unusual in that regard, and maybe I did miss out on something — but then, nobody can have everything, right?”

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