All About Diane Keaton: The 'Outsider' Who Rose To Fame With The Godfather, Received Four Oscar Nods And Adopted 2 Children In Her 50s

Diane Keaton, best known for her performance in movies such as Annie Hall and The Godfather, passed away on October 11. Unconfirmed reports suggest that the actress was battling health issues for a long time before her passing at the age of 79. One of the most celebrated actresses in Hollywood, Diane received Oscar nominations three times and won the award for Best Actress once.

Diane Keaton's early life, before showbiz 

Diane was born as Diane Hall in January 1946 in Los Angeles. The actress's family did not hail from the industry. Her mother was a homemaker and photographer, and her father was in real estate and civil engineering. Keaton completed her primary education in California, where she developed an interest in theatre and singing. She studied under Sanford Meisner in New York.

She started on the stage as an understudy in the Broadway production of Hair, and in Allen’s Play It Again, Sam in 1968, for which she would receive a Tony nomination. However, in her 20s, the actress, who was just starting her career in showbiz, battled bulimia due to being self-conscious of her appearance.

Diane Keaton's breakthrough performances in The Godfather and Annie Hall 

Keaton made her film debut in the 1970 romantic comedy Lovers and Other Strangers, but her big breakthrough would come a few years later when she was cast in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather, which won best picture and became one of the most beloved films of all time. Despite the massive popularity of the film, Keaton hesitated to reprise her role in the sequel to the film initially.  

She collaborated with Woody Allen and the late Marshall Brickman for one of her most iconic roles in Annie Hall, the infectious woman from Chippewa Falls whom Allen’s Alvy Singer cannot get over. The film is considered one of the great romantic comedies of all time, with Keaton’s eccentric, self-deprecating Annie at its heart.

Also Read: Oscar-Winning Actress And Hollywood Icon Diane Keaton Dies At 79 

Diane Keaton's romantic relationships 

Diane Keaton was in a romantic relationship with director Woody Allen from about 1968, when she met him while auditioning for his play, until about 1974. They continued to maintain a good bond even after parting ways and even collaborated again.

The actress was also romantically linked to Al Pacino, who played her husband in The Godfather, and Warren Beatty, who directed her and with whom she co-starred in Reds.

Also Read: Diane Keaton's Cause Of Death: How Did The Oscar-winning Actress Die? 

Diane Keaton adopted her children in 50s 

Diane never married but did adopt two children when she was in her 50s: a daughter, Dexter, and a son, Duke. “I figured the only way to realise my number-one dream of becoming an actual Broadway musical comedy star was to remain an adoring daughter. Loving a man, a man, and becoming a wife, would have to be put aside,” she wrote in the memoir.

Her daughter Dexter was her first adopted child, born born December 15, 1995. She is now married to Jordan White and often shares heartfelt posts for her mother on Instagram. She adopted her son, Duke, in 2000. He is known to have a passion for music and singing, and recently released his musical. 

Also Read: Where To Watch 6 Best Diane Keaton's Films Online