The entertainment world recently paused to mourn Diane Keaton, a true icon who passed away on Saturday, October 11th, at the age of 79. Keaton was celebrated for her remarkable acting career. But she also charted a fiercely independent path in her personal life. She embraced motherhood in her 50s, choosing adoption as a single woman.
Keaton once explained her unique decision to Ladies’ Home Journal. She admitted that being a mother wasn’t something she felt ready for early on. Motherhood wasn’t an urgent desire for her. Instead, it was an idea she had thought about for a long time. Finally, she decided to take the leap.
As a single mother, Keaton welcomed her daughter, Dexter, now 29. Later, she adopted her son, Duke, now 25. While she never walked down the aisle, her life was far from solitary. She shared romantic connections with several famous actors. Her past relationships included high-profile names like Woody Allen, Warren Beatty, and Al Pacino.
Back in 2019, the beloved star of ‘Something’s Gotta Give’ opened up to People magazine about her choice to remain unmarried. She reflected on being 71 at the time. Keaton believed she might be one of the few women of her generation, or even before, to stay single her entire life. She was sure that marriage simply wouldn’t have been a good fit for her. "I’m really glad I didn’t," she added, "and I’m sure they’re happy about it too," referring to her former Hollywood boyfriends.
In 2023, the actress reiterated her contentment with life as a single mother. She told AARP The Magazine that she wasn’t dating anyone. She also felt it was highly unlikely she would start a new romantic relationship. "I don’t recall anybody calling me up and saying, ‘Hey, so-and-so, I’d like to take you out.’ That doesn’t happen. Of course not," she noted playfully.
Her lifelong stance on marriage wasn’t new. It was a belief she held since her teenage years. Keaton recalled a memory from high school. A boy once approached her, telling her she would someday make a good wife. Her immediate thought was clear: "I don’t want to be a wife. No."
While Keaton’s family requested privacy following her passing, many Hollywood colleagues shared their heartfelt tributes. Bette Midler, her co-star from ‘The First Wives’ Club,’ posted on Instagram that Saturday. She remembered Keaton as brilliant, beautiful, and extraordinary. Midler also highlighted her humor, originality, and complete lack of malice or competitiveness. "What you saw was who she was," Midler wrote. "Oh, la, lala!"
Co-stars from ‘Father of the Bride’ also shared their grief for the late actress. Kimberly Williams-Paisley, who played Keaton’s daughter in the iconic films, commented on People‘s Instagram post announcing Keaton’s death. She said it broke her heart. Working with Diane Keaton, she wrote, "will always be one of the highlights of my life," adding a red heart emoji.
Steve Martin, who played Keaton’s anxious husband, George Banks, in those movies, also honored her memory. The 80-year-old actor shared an old black and white photo of a young Keaton on X (formerly Twitter) that Saturday. His simple message conveyed much emotion: "Loved her!"