Diane Keaton dies at 79

Tributes paid to actor, producer, writer and fashion icon.

by Jennie Kermode

Diane Keaton wields a lobster in in Annie Hall
Diane Keaton wields a lobster in in Annie Hall

Diane Keaton has died at the age of 79 in California. The much-loved actor was famous for her roles in The Godfather, Manhattan and Annie Hall, and won a new generation of fans when she lent her vocal talents to Finding Dory.

Winning an Oscar, a BAFTA and two Golden Globe awards over the course of a career that spanned five decades, Keaton excelled at comic work and was famous among her peers for the thoroughness with which she prepared for roles. As well as acting and producing, she tried her hand at directing, and when this met with limited success in the medium of film she carved out a further career directing music videos. She also performed as a singer herself.

Alongside this work, Keaton frequently appeared on the stage, winning popular acclaim for her performance in Hair and a Tony award for her work in the theatrical version of Play It Again, Sam. She wrote several books, worked as a literary editor and was acclaimed for her skills as a photographer, occasionally exhibiting her work. Her focus was on architecture, and she went on to work in real estate with a focus on the restoration and preservation of historic buildings.

The cause of Keaton's death is not yet known. She is survived by sons Dexter and Duke.

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