The cause of death of Hollywood legend Diane Keaton at the age of 79 has been confirmed as pneumonia.
The Oscar-winning star of Annie Hall, The Godfather and Something’s Gotta Give passed away on Saturday (October 11), with her family confirming the news to People.
Now, they have issued a further update, sending gratitude for the outpouring of love for the actor in recent days. “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 11th,” the statement read.
A report from People revealed that Keaton’s illness caught those close to her by surprise. “She declined very suddenly, which was heartbreaking for everyone who loved her,” an unnamed friend of the Oscar winner said. “It was so unexpected, especially for someone with such strength and spirit.”
They added: “In her final months, she was surrounded only by her closest family, who chose to keep things very private. Even longtime friends weren’t fully aware of what was happening.”
Another source told the outlet that the star retained her sense of humour and kept her friends close. “In these last few years, she kept a close circle and she liked it that way” they said. “She was funny right up until the end and she had this way of making even ordinary moments feel special. That was just who she was.”
Many of Keaton’s friends and colleagues have shared tributes to her since the news broke, including Robert De Niro, Jane Fonda, Leonardo DiCaprio, Bette Midler, Steve Martin, Goldie Hawn and Belinda Carlisle. Keanu Reeves also described her as a “generous, generous artist and a very special, unique person”.
Known as a master of both comedy and drama, Keaton won an Oscar for her portrayal of the title character in Annie Hall (1977), one of eight films she made with Woody Allen. She was nominated three more times, for Reds (1981), Marvin’s Room (1996) and Something’s Gotta Give (2003).
She is survived by her adopted daughter Dexter and son Duke.
