Diane Keaton, Oscar-Profitable Comedy Star, Dies at 79

One of many movie world’s signature stars of the final 50 years has died.

Diane Keaton handed away on Saturday, October 11 in California. Her dying was first reported by Folks Journal. A spokesperson advised the outlet “there are not any additional particulars out there right now, and her household has requested for privateness on this second of nice disappointment.” Keaton was 79 years previous.

Born Diane Corridor on January 5, 1946, Keaton grew up in Los Angeles. (She modified her stage identify to Diane Keaton as a result of another person had already registered with Actors’ Fairness below her actual identify; Keaton was her mom’s maiden identify.) She studied appearing in New York, and discovered work on Broadway, the place she was solid reverse Woody Allen in his 1969 play Play It Once more, Sam. (The play was later become a movie, directed by Herbert Ross, the place Keaton reprised her function.) Keaton acquired a Tony Award nomination for Finest Supporting Actress for her efficiency.

Keaton’s massive break as a movie actor got here when she was solid in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather because the Kay Adams, Michael Corleone’s girlfriend. Keaton later reprised the function in each 1974’s The Godfather Half II and 1990’s The Godfather Half III.

After The Godfather, Keaton grew to become Allen’s definitive onscreen co-star of the Seventies. She appeared in most of the author/director/star’s hottest movies of the interval, together with Sleeper, Love and Dying, Manhattan, and Allen’s most celebrated film, the romantic comedy Annie Corridor. Launched in 1977, Annie Corridor received 4 Academy Awards, together with Finest Image (over the unique Star Wars), Finest Director, Finest Unique Screenplay, and Finest Actress for Keaton as Annie Corridor.

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Though The Godfather and Annie Corridor remained Keaton’s two defining roles, she continued to star in movies proper up final 12 months. The record of fashionable and critically acclaimed hits she appeared in goes on and on: On the lookout for Mr. Goodbar, Interiors, Reds, The First Wives Membership, Father of the Bride and its sequel, Marvin’s Room, One thing’s Gotta Give, The Household Stone, E book Membership, and its sequel, 2023’s E book Membership: The Subsequent Chapter. (She was nominated for Finest Actress once more for Reds, Marvin’s Room, and One thing’s Gotta Give.)

Keaton additionally directed 4 movies, beginning with 1987’s Heaven. Her most up-to-date directorial effort, 2000’s Hanging Up was 2000’s Hanging Up. Her closing movie as an actor was 2024’s Summer season Camp, reverse Kathy Bates and Alfre Woodard.

Keaton was an actor whose abilities spanned a number of genres, and whose enchantment crossed a number of generations. Her dying is a large loss for film lovers; it’s arduous to think about the cinema of the Seventies — or a lot of the many years since — with out her.