The entertainment world is in mourning following the passing of legendary actress Diane Keaton, who died at the age of 79. Among those feeling the loss is her former partner, Al Pacino, who harbors a sense of regret.
Renowned for her roles in Annie Hall and The Godfather, Keaton left behind an impressive legacy in film, fashion, and autonomy. Her romantic life also captivated audiences over the years.
Keaton, who passed on October 11, was famous for her humor, distinctive hats, and firm decision never to marry. She often expressed her relief at not having wed, as she mentioned to PEOPLE in 2019.
Although the cause of her death is currently unknown, her well-publicized romance with Pacino has come back into focus, casting a new light on a poignant part of their shared history.
Keaton’s relationship with Pacino began on the set of The Godfather in 1971, where she portrayed Kay, his character’s wife. She confessed to developing a crush on Pacino during filming, describing him as ‘charming, hilarious, a nonstop talker’ and adding: “There was an aspect of him that was like a lost orphan, like this kind of crazy idiot savant. And oh, gorgeous!”
Their relationship was tumultuous, spanning the 1970s and 1980s. Keaton was ‘mad for him’, but their romance was not destined to be permanent. She desired marriage, while Pacino did not.
Eventually, Keaton gave him an ultimatum: marry me or else. Known for his reluctance to commit, Pacino chose to end the relationship. While Keaton later expressed contentment with never marrying, Pacino reportedly feels differently about it now.
In the aftermath of her passing, and following a touching final social media post from Keaton, sources close to the 85-year-old actor shared with the Daily Mail that he has been contemplating the one thing he never did—marry her. One friend remarked: “Looking back, Al admits the love of his life was Diane, who he’s always called ‘an amazing woman… I know he will forever regret he didn’t make his move when he had the chance.”
Despite living only a few miles apart in Beverly Hills for years, an insider claims that ‘they never spoke’.
When questioned about this, Pacino reportedly said: “There’s no need to talk with each other. We said everything that needed to be said at the time.”
However, there was never any hostility between them.
When Keaton was honored with the American Film Institute’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017, Pacino publicly expressed: “You’re a great artist. I love you forever.”