The cause of Diane Keaton's death has been revealed. The "First Wives Club" star died of pneumonia on Saturday, October 11, at the age of 79, according to a statement from her family shared with People on Wednesday. Her sudden death left her fans across the world shocked.
"The Keaton family are very grateful for the extraordinary messages of love and support they have received these past few days on behalf of their beloved Diane, who passed away from pneumonia on October 11," Keaton's loved ones shared. They also shared what the actress had been most passionate about in her later years — especially her deep love and care for animals.
Death of an Icon
"She loved her animals and she was steadfast in her support of the unhoused community, so any donations in her memory to a local food bank or an animal shelter would be a wonderful and much appreciated tribute to her," they added.
Over the past weekend, on Saturday, a family spokesperson confirmed Keaton's unexpected death to People, prompting an outpouring of love and tributes from fellow stars and fans alike.
On Wednesday, a close friend of the Oscar-winning actress told TMZ that the "Something's Gotta Give" and "Father of the Bride" star had been battling illness for some time. "It was so unexpected," the friend added, "especially for someone with such strength and spirit."
The close friend of Keaton also said that her family chose to keep her health struggles out of the public eye. "In her final months, she was surrounded only by her closest family, who chose to keep things very private," the heartbroken friend shared.
"Even longtime friends weren't fully aware of what was happening," the friend added.
Fans were also surprised when Keaton put her "dream home" in Los Angeles—a five-bedroom, seven-bathroom property—on the market for $29 million in March, especially since she had reportedly said she planned to live there for good.
Happy In Her Final Days
Meanwhile, a film executive who was a close friend of Keaton told the outlet that she "was funny right up until the end." "She lived exactly how she wanted to, which was on her own terms, surrounded by the people and things she really loved," the pal stated, adding that Keaton "kept a close circle and she liked it that way" in the final few years of her life.
The acclaimed actress rose to stardom in the 1970s, earning fame for her roles in iconic films such as "The Godfather", "Annie Hall", "Baby Boom", "First Wives Club", and "Something's Gotta Give".
She won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1977 for her unforgettable performance in "Annie Hall."
Keaton's last Instagram post, shared in April, showed her looking cheerful and healthy alongside her dog, Reggie.
E! News reported that she was last spotted in public in late 2024 while out holiday shopping, with earlier photos capturing her running errands in August of the same year.
Keaton leaves behind her two adopted children: daughter Dexter, 29, and son Duke, 25.
