The entertainment world lost a true legend when Diane Keaton passed away at 79 years old. The news broke on Saturday, October 11, leaving fans and colleagues in mourning. Her family, through a statement to People magazine, shared few details, simply asking for "privacy" as they navigate their profound loss.
Friends had noticed a significant change in the beloved actress in the weeks leading up to her death. Carole Bayer Sager, an Oscar-winning songwriter and close friend, recalled her last visit with Keaton. "I saw her two or three weeks ago, and she was very thin," Sager told People in an interview released on Sunday, October 12. "She had lost a lot of weight."
Sager, 81, who even co-wrote Keaton’s 2024 solo single "First Christmas" with Jonas Myrin, explained that they hadn’t interacted as much this year. The reason was the devastating California wildfires in January. Keaton had to move to Palm Springs for months because her home suffered internal damage, requiring extensive cleaning. "She was there for a while," Sager remembered. "When she came back, I was shocked by how much she had slimmed down."
Another friend also spoke to People, sharing that the Father of the Bride star’s health "deteriorated very suddenly" in her final months. Normally, Keaton would take daily walks with her dog, Reggie, around her Brentwood, California, neighborhood. However, she stopped making public appearances early in the year.
Sources indicate that Keaton chose to keep her health struggles private. She preferred to spend her last days surrounded by "her closest family," which includes her adopted daughter Dexter, adopted in 1996, and her son Duke, adopted in 2001.
Tributes quickly poured in from across Hollywood, highlighting Keaton’s impact. Stars like Reese Witherspoon, her Father of the Bride co-star Steve Martin, and her Marvin’s Room co-star Robert De Niro shared their condolences. De Niro, 82, released a heartfelt statement describing Keaton as "brilliant, funny, and authentic."
"A legend, an icon, and a truly kind person," De Niro stated. "I had the honor of working with her at 18. We will miss her deeply."
Despite her declining health, Keaton showed no signs of slowing down professionally just a couple of years ago. In September 2022, she told Us Weekly that she was completely open to taking on more projects. "I’d say more of everything that comes my way," she shared at the time. "I don’t know what’s going to come my way. Maybe nothing will come my way."
She reflected on her career with gratitude, adding, "I’ve been so lucky, so I don’t want to turn anything down without knowing if I might have a chance to know, would I do it or not? I wouldn’t set anything aside unless I read something that I truly felt wouldn’t be the right fit for me, something like that. It just wouldn’t be good for me." These words paint a picture of an artist who remained open to creativity and new experiences until the very end.