Diane Keaton, the Oscar-winning actress whose charm, naturalness and trademark style defined cinema in the modern era, has passed away at 79 in California. Her death has been confirmed by her family but the cause of death has not been disclosed.
Keaton was the blood of American film during over 50 years. The Godfather with its chilling silence and Annie Hall with its eccentric genius, she provided viewers with characters that were real people, imperfect, optimistic, and all too human. Her work re-invented the modern heroine, with a combination of intellectual acuity and emotional intensity.
Keaton was a prolific polymath off-screen, an author, photographer, and designer. Her androgynous, menswear-inspired clothes, bowler hats, tailored suits, and wide belts, became a fashion revolution. She did not lose her love of reinvention and in 2024 she appeared in her last movie, Summer Camp, and even released her first holiday single, First Christmas.
Being a loving mother and an unashamed individualist, Keaton influenced generations to live honestly and dress provocatively. Her peers in Hollywood such as Reese Witherspoon hailed her as a mentor who made originality appear easy. Saturday Night Live gave her a tribute card, in black and white, in her silent elegance.
Diane Keaton was not merely an actor, she was a brave and creative person. Her life teaches us that being authentic is never out of fashion, and that being an artist is being unashamed of who one is.