Hollywood is remembering screen icon Diane Keaton, who passed away on Saturday, October 11, at the age of 79. Tributes from across the industry quickly followed, with Patricia Arquette, Keanu Reeves, and Nancy Meyers sharing heartfelt memories of the legendary actress.
Actress Patricia Arquette, who worked with Keaton on the 1991 TV film ‘Wildflower’ and a 1990 ‘CBS Schoolbreak Special’ episode, spoke to People on Monday, October 13. Arquette called Keaton “so immediate, so alive and so generous.”
Arquette, known for ‘Severance’ and ‘Boyhood,’ praised Keaton’s unique presence. She described her as “effervescent” and without pretension. Keaton also possessed “an incredible eye for beauty, design, photography and art.”
Highlighting Keaton’s illustrious filmography, Arquette cited her Oscar-winning role in ‘Annie Hall.’ She also mentioned impactful performances in ‘Reds,’ ‘Looking for Mr. Goodbar,’ and ‘The Godfather.’ Arquette even admitted to skipping school to watch ‘Reds.’
Keanu Reeves, Keaton’s co-star in ‘Something’s Gotta Give,’ also shared his respects on Monday with E! News. Reeves, 61, described Keaton as “very kind to me. Generous artist, generous, and a very special and unique person.”
Director Nancy Meyers, a longtime collaborator, posted an extensive tribute to her friend on Instagram. Meyers, 75, noted that “these last 48 hours have not been easy,” referencing the shock of Keaton’s death.
Meyers acknowledged the collective grief, stating, “As a movie fan, I’m with all of you: we’ve lost a giant.” She remembered Keaton as “a brilliant actress who over and over exposed herself to tell our stories.”
On a personal level, Meyers felt she had lost “a friend of almost 40 years; at times during those years, she felt like a sister.” As a filmmaker, she cherished “a connection with an actress one only dreams of.”
Meyers explained that Keaton truly understood her, which made her a better writer. She felt secure knowing Keaton could handle both vulnerability and humor. Keaton could deliver dialogue “word for word… but always managed to make it sound improvised.”
Like Arquette, Meyers celebrated Keaton’s work in ‘Annie Hall,’ for which she won an Academy Award, and ‘Reds,’ directed by Warren Beatty. Meyers concluded, “She was fearless, there was no one like her, born to be a movie star.”
Meyers ended her tribute reflecting on Keaton’s profound impact. “Her laugh could brighten your day and, for me, meeting her and working with her changed my life. Thank you, Di. I will miss you always.”