Filmmaker Woody Allen is reportedly “distraught” following the death of his former girlfriend and frequent collaborator, Diane Keaton, who passed away in California at the age of 79. Sources told People that the 89-year-old director was “extremely distraught and surprised and upset” by the news, adding that it has made him “think of his own mortality.”
Allen was reportedly unaware that Keaton’s health had been in rapid decline before her death, which came as a shock to him.
The pair’s romance began in 1969 when Keaton starred in Allen’s Broadway play, Play It Again, Sam. Although their dating relationship ended after a few years, their professional partnership defined a significant era of cinema, including the 1977 film Annie Hall, for which Keaton won the Oscar for Best Actress.
A Loyal Friend and Great Inspiration
Their friendship endured for decades, even through personal and professional controversies. Keaton notably publicly defended Allen in 2018 when old child molestation allegations resurfaced during the #MeToo movement, writing on X (then Twitter), “Woody Allen is my friend and I continue to believe him.” She also remained friends with him after his separation from Mia Farrow.
A source indicated that Keaton’s belief that his work was important outweighed the issues, and Allen was “always grateful for that,” maintaining a close bond with her. The two reportedly continued to communicate via phone and text, especially after her public support.
Allen consistently expressed his admiration for Keaton, calling her “a great, great inspiration” at the 45th Annual AFI Life Achievement Award ceremony in 2017. He credited her influence on his life and work, saying, “Much of what I’ve accomplished in my life I owe, for sure, to her. Seeing life through her eyes.”