> At a Glance
> – Legendary actress Diane Keaton died at 79 in California, confirmed October 11
> – Carson called her “honest about being what she is, and that’s rare”
> – She never watched The Godfather films or her first three Allen comedies
> – Why it matters: Her unfiltered self-doubt and authenticity redefined stardom
Three months after her death, January 5, 2025-what would have been her 80th birthday-fresh tributes spotlight the vulnerability that made Diane Keaton unforgettable.
A Reluctant Star
Keaton’s 1975 PEOPLE profile shows an icon uneasy with her own image. “I just don’t like the way I look and sound,” she admitted, revealing she had skipped viewing The Godfather Parts I & II and her early Allen hits.
Johnny Carson told the magazine Keaton and Woody Allen were kindred spirits:
- Both “uncomfortable and withdrawn in a crowd”
- Her awkwardness was “part of what made her so magnetic”
Woody Allen echoed:
> “She has no confidence… Diane is one of the greatest natural comediennes I’ve ever seen.”
Enduring Collaborations
Keaton teamed repeatedly with writer-director Nancy Meyers on:
- Baby Boom (1987)
- Father of the Bride (1991) and its 1995 sequel
- Something’s Gotta Give (2003)
- Father of the Bride Part 3(ish) (2020 Netflix short)
Despite later controversies, she stood by Allen, tweeting, “Woody Allen is my friend and I continue to believe him.”
Final Tributes
A close friend told News Of Los Angeles Keaton remained “funny right up until the end,” living “on her own terms.”
**Bette Midler posted:
> “She was hilarious, a complete original… What you saw was who she was.”
Key Takeaways
- Keaton won an Oscar for Annie Hall yet avoided her own performances
- Carson praised her rare honesty in a 1975 interview
- She forged celebrated partnerships with both Allen and Meyers
- Colleagues remember her humor and authenticity as her defining traits
