Diane Keaton’s family reveals the Oscar winner’s cause of death
Diane Keaton died in Los Angeles on Saturday at the age of 79, and her family says the cause was pneumonia.
Family members of the Oscar-winning actress shared a statement With people Confirming Keaton’s cause of death, they said they were “deeply grateful for the extraordinary messages of love and support” they had received in recent days.
The outlet first reported news of the screen icon’s death on Saturday, saying the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to her home that morning and transported a 79-year-old woman to an area hospital. Initially, the family did not disclose the cause of death and requested privacy while processing their grief.
In a statement on Wednesday, Keaton’s family members said the star had a deep love for animals and was passionate about supporting the unhoused community. They encouraged people to honor her memory by donating to a food bank or animal shelter.
Keaton is best known for her powerful performances in blockbusters such as Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather and Woody Allen’s Annie Hall, which earned her the 1978 Academy Award for Best Lead Actress. She was also nominated for Lead Actress for her roles in Reds (1981), Marvin’s Room (1996), and Something’s Gotta Give (2003).
Born in Los Angeles in 1946, Keaton rose to fame during her New York theater career in the late 1960s, receiving a Tony Award nomination at the age of 25 for her role in Allen’s 1969 stage production of Play It Again, Sam.
Later in her career, she became a muse for writer, director, and producer Nancy Meyers, and starred in four of her films. She has been a trendsetter and is known for her stunning on-screen fashions and, more recently, for sharing her style on Instagram, where she has amassed 2.6 million followers.
Theater, film and fashion fans alike mourned Keaton’s death.
“She was hilarious, completely original, and completely devoid of guile or any competitiveness one would expect from such a star,” actress Bette Midler wrote on Instagram. “What I saw was who she was.”
“Diane Keaton wasn’t just an actress: she was a powerhouse. A woman who showed us that being yourself is the most powerful thing you can be. From Annie Hall to Something’s Gotta Give, she made every role unforgettable,” actress Octavia Spencer wrote on Instagram.
Times film editor Joshua Rothkopf contributed to this report.