Legendary Actress Diane Keaton Passes Away at 79
Legendary actress Diane Keaton, known for her hit films such as Annie Hall and The Godfather, passed away at the age of 79 in California this week.
Keaton’s close family has asked for privacy during this difficult moment and has thus far declined to publish any official details about her death or her health struggles.
However, in a surprising decision, some of her dearest friends have opted to take the opposite route and open up to the press about her final and heartbreaking moments, revealing some of the challenges she faced and arrangements she made.
Diane Keaton Leaves Behind A Powerful Legacy Of Love
While her last Instagram post showed her looking happy and healthy while cuddling and playing with her beloved dog, the reality of her life in recent months was more challenging and gloomier than many had realized.
Although she never married, Keaton leaves behind a powerful legacy of love, including her two adopted adult children, whom she was very close to: her daughter, Dexter Keaton, and her son, Duke Keaton. The businesswoman made the decision to adopt them in her early 50s, starting with Dexter in 1996 and Duke in 2001, making her a dedicated single mother.
How Diane Keaton Amassed Her $100 Million Fortune
Keaton also leaves an impressive acting career and a massive net worth estimated at $100 million, much of which she earned through her savvy investments and restoration work in Los Angeles real estate. Her prowess as a home flipper was well-known in the Hollywood community. Some notable properties tied to her real estate ventures include a 1920s Spanish Colonial Revival Home in Beverly Hills, which Keaton bought and restored before selling it to Madonna for approximately $6.5 million in 2000, marking the start of her well-known restoration projects.
She owned a Historic Spanish-Style Mansion (Los Angeles). Keaton purchased it in 2002, did a top-to-bottom restoration, and later sold it for $16.5 million in 2005. The actress and shrewd real estate developer was the owner of an Oceanfront Home (Laguna Beach). She bought the property for $7.5 million in 2004 and sold it for $12.75 million two years later. She is the owner of a stunning mansion in Sullivan Canyon Home (Brentwood), now known as “the house that Pinterest built.” Diane Keaton bought it in 2009 for $4.7 million and listed it for $29 million just months before her death.
Friends Detail Diane Keaton’s Sudden Decline In Final Months
Keaton famously dated some of the biggest Hollywood actors during her career, including Woody Allen, Al Pacino, and Warren Beatty. Despite the picture of radiance and happiness in her final Instagram post, where she was seen lovingly petting her dog, her reality was complicated and devastating. Friends and family told PEOPLE magazine that in the past months, her health had taken a turn for the worse, and she had lost a lot of weight.
A friend of the actress told PEOPLE that “she declined very suddenly, which was heartbreaking for everyone who loved her. Her rapid decline was unexpected.”
Keaton and her loved ones also chose to keep her health battle private, according to the outlet. “In her final months, she was surrounded only by her closest family, who chose to keep things very private,” the source said. “Even longtime friends weren’t fully aware of what was happening.”
Diane Keaton’s Beloved Daily Dog Walk Suddenly Stopped
Sources close to the late star explained that her health issues made it impossible for her to enjoy some of her passions, such as walking her pets. A source also told the outlet that Keaton was known for walking her dog daily in her Brentwood neighborhood, but was not seen for the past couple of months.
“She loved her neighborhood,” the source said. “Up until just a few months ago, she’d walk her dog every day. She was usually dressed the same, with a hat and her signature sunglasses regardless of the weather.” “She was always very nice, funny and chatty,” the source continued. “She’d talk to her dog like he was a person. She was eccentric and had this old-school Hollywood aura. She was very, very special.”
The Alarming Signal That Foreshadowed Diane Keaton’s Passing
Diane Keaton had begun making final arrangements, as her health issues had taken a turn. She rang the alarm bells in March by listing her long-time “dream home.” PEOPLE Magazine confirmed, “there was one alarming signal in March — she listed her “dream home” in Los Angeles for $29 million, which surprised her friends, given that she had previously said she planned to remain there permanently.”
Keaton held a special place in Hollywood.
