Diane Keaton, the Oscar-winning actress whose mix of wit, heart, and singular style made her one of Hollywood’s most beloved figures, has died at 79. The news broke over the weekend, and by Sunday morning, tributes were flooding in from actors, musicians, and filmmakers who grew up watching her, worked alongside her, or were simply changed by her work.
From The Godfather to Annie Hall and Something’s Gotta Give, Keaton’s career spanned more than five decades, balancing vulnerability and eccentricity in a way that became uniquely hers. Her passing, confirmed by family representatives, leaves behind a void few performers could ever fill — and the tone of the tributes reflected that.
Bette Midler, Keaton’s co-star in The First Wives Club, was among the first to speak out. Posting on Threads, she shared a carousel of photos of the two friends over the years, writing:
“The brilliant, beautiful, extraordinary Diane Keaton has died. I cannot tell you how unbearably sad this makes me. She was hilarious, and completely without guile or any of the competitiveness one would have expected from such a star. What you saw was who she was… oh, la, lala!”
Ben Stiller kept it simple on X, summing up what most people already knew:
Diane Keaton. One of the greatest film actors ever. An icon of style, humor and comedy. Brilliant. What a person.— Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) October 11, 2025
Kerry Washington echoed that sentiment on Threads, posting a portrait of Keaton and writing:
“Rest in peace, Diane Keaton. Your talent, courage, and authenticity were a true inspiration.”
Belinda Carlisle shared a memory that went beyond admiration — she’d worked with Keaton early in her music career. The actress directed two of Carlisle’s most famous music videos: “Heaven Is a Place on Earth” and “I Get Weak.”
I cant! 💔💔💔 Diane Keaton was such a talent and a BIG part of my career. She directed two videos of mine – “Heaven Is A Place on Earth” and the video for “I Get Weak.”
She was kind and eccentric and I was blessed to know her. RIP Diane, you will be missed. 💔 pic.twitter.com/PbDVNQsJh8— Belinda Carlisle 💙 (@belindacarlisle) October 11, 2025
Octavia Spencer posted a message that felt like a quiet salute:
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Kate Hudson, whose mother Goldie Hawn starred with Keaton in The First Wives Club, kept her message short but heavy with affection:
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Nancy Sinatra shared a longer, more personal reflection on X, describing how deeply she admired Keaton’s work:
Diane Keaton has left us and I can’t tell you how profoundly sad that makes me. I adored her — idolized her. She was a very special person and an incredibly gifted actor, who made each of her roles unforgettable. Her light will continue to shine through the art she leaves behind.… pic.twitter.com/pYr5cm3Ebu
— Nancy Sinatra (@NancySinatra) October 11, 2025
Jeremy O. Harris, the playwright behind Slave Play, called her “one of America’s most graceful, elegant and fiercely talented muses,” adding that Keaton’s performances reminded him that “the most interesting person you can mine are the many aspects of yourself.”
RIP to one of America’s most graceful, elegant, and fiercely talented muses Diane Keaton who maintained a sense of self throughout her many roles that was a reminder to me as a young performer that the most interesting person you can mine are the many aspects of yourself. pic.twitter.com/qXJ7iRS1zY
— Jeremy O. Harris (@jeremyoharris) October 11, 2025
Director Joe Russo honored her with a simple but evocative nod to her greatest hits:
Whether it’s ANNIE HALL or SOMETHING’S GOTTA GIVE, we’ll always remember when we fell in love with Diane Keaton.
RIP to an icon. pic.twitter.com/QYaVwMOy3e
— Joe Russo (@joerussotweets) October 11, 2025
Actor Matthew Modine shared a photo from their time filming Mrs. Soffel in 1984, remembering her as “a mystery… behind a gorgeous smile, razor-sharp wit and infectious laugh.” Melissa Rivers, daughter of Joan Rivers, added her voice too, writing:
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Keaton’s career began in theater before she broke out as Kay Corleone in The Godfather (1972), a role that introduced her to the world. Five years later, she won the Academy Award for Annie Hall, establishing a screen persona equal parts neurotic and lovable — a balance that shaped romantic comedies for decades. Her later work in Baby Boom, Marvin’s Room, and Something’s Gotta Give proved she could move between heartache and humor without missing a beat.
Over the years, her style — the turtlenecks, the oversized hats, the tailored suits — became shorthand for individuality. It’s no wonder that so many of the tributes use the same words: authentic, original, fearless.
As of now, no public memorial has been announced, but celebrations of her life are already being planned by the Annie Hall and Godfather production teams, along with the American Film Institute, which honored her with its Life Achievement Award in 2017.
The words that keep resurfacing online—“icon,” “inspiration,” “one of a kind”—don’t feel like cliches in her case. They fit. Diane Keaton didn’t just star in some of Hollywood’s greatest films; she rewrote what it looked like to do it your own way and made everyone watching feel like that was the point all along.