Legendary actress Diane Keaton’s family is speaking out for the first time since her death, sharing heartfelt words about her life, her legacy, and the causes she cared about most.
In a statement shared with PEOPLE on Wednesday, Keaton’s loved ones confirmed the Oscar winner died of pneumonia last Saturday at the age of 79. They also took a moment to express their gratitude for the “extraordinary messages of love and support” they’ve received over the past several days.
Her family added that the best way to honor Keaton’s spirit would be through generosity — a reflection of the way she lived her life. “She loved her animals and she was steadfast in her support of the unhoused community,” they said. “Any donations in her memory to a local food bank or an animal shelter would be a wonderful and much appreciated tribute to her.”
Their message marked the family’s first public statement since the beloved actress’s death. When the news first broke, a spokesperson for Keaton’s family shared that there were “no further details available at this time” and asked for privacy “in this moment of great sadness.”
According to an unnamed source who spoke to PEOPLE, Keaton’s health had “declined very suddenly,” and her death “was so unexpected,” even to many of her longtime friends. They explained that the actress spent her final days surrounded only by her closest family members, who chose to keep her condition private.
Still, those close to her said she remained deeply connected to her friends and loved ones until the end. Actor Ed Begley Jr., who appeared alongside Keaton in the 2018 romantic comedy Book Club, told People he saw her recently at a birthday celebration for her good friend Jack Nicholson. “She loved Jack Nicholson, as I do, and Jack loved her,” Begley Jr. added. “So I don’t mean to speak for him. I’m sure he’s as devastated as I am by her loss.”
News of her death sent shockwaves through Hollywood and around the world, as fans, fellow actors, and admirers shared tributes to the woman who brought warmth, wit, and originality to every role she played. Jane Fonda, another Book Club co-star, wrote that it was hard to accept the loss of someone who had always seemed so full of life.
“She was always a spark of life and light, constantly giggling at her own foibles, being limitlessly creative…in her acting, her wardrobe, her books, her friends, her homes, her library, her worldview,” Fonda wrote on Instagram.
Bette Midler also remembered Keaton with love and admiration, calling her “hilarious, a complete original, and completely without guile or any of the competitiveness one would have expected from such a star. What you saw was who she was.”
Over her decades-long career, Keaton became an icon — known for her sharp comedic timing, singular style, and unforgettable performances in films like Annie Hall, The Godfather series, and Something’s Gotta Give. It’s no surprise her talent earned her an Academy Award in 1978 for Annie Hall.
As tributes continue to pour in, it’s clear Keaton’s influence reaches well beyond the screen. She touched generations of performers and audiences alike, leaving behind a legacy shaped as much by her warmth and spirit as by her work.
