Oct. 11 (UPI) — Screen legend and style icon Diane Keaton has died in California at the age of 79.
People.com was the first to report the sad news Saturday.
The New York Post and Deadline also confirmed the passing of the Oscar-winning star of The Godfather, Annie Hall and The First Wives Club. She was recently seen in the Book Club franchise, as well as the comedy, Summer Camp.
A frequent collaborator of playwright and filmmaker Woody Allen, Keaton appeared in his stage production of Play It Again, Sam, Sleeper, Interiors, Radio Days and Manhattan.
She won her Oscar in 1978 for acting opposite Allen in his classic, Annie Hall.
Her other credits include Shoot the Moon, Looking for Mr. Goodbar, Baby Boom, Father of the Bride, Something’s Gotta Give, And So It Goes and The Family Stone.
Keaton was also known to be warm, funny storyteller, animal lover and popular talk-show guest.
Speaking to UPI in 2014 about her lounge singer role in the comedy And So It Goes, Keaton revealed she wished she had a stronger voice.
“I had insane fantasies about me and my singing, but they completely fell apart when I started singing. You know what I mean? It’s sort of like a little, tiny voice and not much there. I wish it had been a big voice,” Keaton said.
“I mean, can you imagine singing great? Can you imagine having a gift like Beyonce’s singing? That coming out of your head? What does it feel like? I would love it. So, when I was trying to do the Bonnie Raitt song, I was really having a hard time. I couldn’t really do the notes. I couldn’t be Bonnie Raitt.”
The cause of Keaton’s death was not immediately announced.
She is survived by her children — Dexter, 29, and Duke, 25.
Singer and actress Bette Midler wrote on Instagram Saturday: “The brilliant, beautiful, extraordinary Diane Keaton has died.
“I cannot tell you how unbearably sad this makes me. She was hilarious, a complete original, and completely without guile, or any of the competitiveness one would have expected from such a star,” Midler added. “What you saw was who she was…oh, la, lala!”
Actor Eric McCormack commented simply on the post, “Gutted,” alongside a broken heart emoji.
Kimberly Williams-Paisley, who played her daughter in Father of the Bride, wrote in her own online message: “Diane, working with you will always be one of the highlights of my life. You are one of a kind, and it was thrilling to be in your orbit for a time. Thank you for your kindness, your generosity, your talent, and above all, your laughter.”