Oscar-winning actress Diane Keaton has died at the age of 79, her family confirmed in an exclusive statement to PEOPLE. The cause of death was pneumonia, the family said.
“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,” the statement read.
Keaton’s loved ones highlighted her passions, noting that she cared deeply for animals and supported the unhoused community. They suggested that donations in her memory to a local food bank or animal shelter would honor her legacy.
PEOPLE first reported Keaton’s death on October 11, stating that she passed away in California. A source said her health “declined very suddenly,” describing her passing as “heartbreaking” and “unexpected,” especially given her strength and spirit.
In her final months, Keaton was surrounded by her closest family, who kept her condition private even from longtime friends. She is survived by her two adopted children, daughter Dexter and son Duke.
Keaton rose to fame in the 1970s with The Godfather films and her Oscar-winning role in Annie Hall. Her career included films such as The First Wives Club, the Book Club franchise, Finding Dory, and Poms. She also directed documentaries and episodes of television shows including Twin Peaks.
Born Diane Hall in Los Angeles in 1946, Keaton never married. She once told PEOPLE she was proud to have lived her life as a single woman, calling herself an “oddball” and noting that she had no desire to be a wife.
