Diane Keaton, one of the most acclaimed actresses of her generation and an Oscar winner for 1977’s Annie Hall, has passed away. Keaton, of course, was the star of such classics as The Godfather trilogy, Reds, Looking for Mr. Goodbar, the Father of the Bride films, The First Wives Club, The Family Stone, and many more classics. According to People, who were the first to break the news, no cause of death has yet been reported.
Keaton’s death is certainly a major blow to film fans everywhere, with her yet another iconic screen presence whose loss will be felt by all. One of the things about Keaton is that her fame was more enduring than most. She first blasted onto the scene in the 1970s, when she played Kay Corleone in the first two Godfather movies opposite Al Pacino. While those were hard, dramatic turns, she also demonstrated a flair for comedy thanks to her work with Woody Allen in movies like Sleeper. She was something of a muse to Allen, with her winning an Oscar for playing the title role in Annie Hall. That movie made her a full-fledged movie star, with her idiosyncratic fashion (including her use of men’s ties) apparently plucked from her own wardrobe, all of which became a fashion that lives on to this day. She continued to work with Allen on and off for years, but also became a bankable star with the leading role in Looking for Mr. Goodbar, a movie that – until recently – was unavailable commercially due to music licensing issues.
She had another major hit in 1987 with the workplace comedy, Baby Boom (a gem worth checking out), a film which helped her establish an enduring screen partnership with Nancy Meyers, with whom she’d reteam on the hit Father of the Bride movies, and her rom-com with Jack Nicholson, Something’s Gotta Give. Keaton continued to star in movies until just recently, with her two Book Club films being major box office hits.
Truly Keaton – like Gene Hackman and Robert Redford – was one of those iconic stars, and her legacy will certainly stand the test of time. May she rest in peace.
