Filmmaker Woody Allen has expressed his admiration and grief for Diane Keaton, his former muse and co-star.
The well-known Hollywood actress passed away on Saturday, October 11, at the age of 75. Her family confirmed the sad news over the weekend through a spokesperson.
It was stated that Keaton died in California, but no additional details were provided. Her family has asked for privacy as they navigate this difficult time.
Throughout her five-decade career, Keaton played memorable roles in productions like Twin Peaks, The First Wives Club, and The Godfather. She also earned an Oscar for her performance in the 1977 film Annie Hall, directed by Woody Allen.
In Annie Hall, Allen portrayed comedian Alvy Singer, while Keaton played the aspiring nightclub singer Annie Hall, exploring their whirlwind romance.
Outside of their professional collaboration, the two were romantically involved from the late 1960s to the early 1970s.
Keaton appeared in eight of Allen’s 50 films, including notable titles like Manhattan, Radio Days, and Play It Again, Sam. Woody Allen penned a tribute to her in the Free Press, describing her as ‘charming’ and ‘beautiful.’
“As time went on, I made movies for an audience of one, Diane Keaton,” Allen remarked. “I never read a single review of my work and cared only what Keaton had to say about it.”
He went on to describe her as ‘unlike anyone the planet has experienced,’ adding, “Her face and laugh illuminated any space she entered.”
Reflecting on her passing, Allen stated: “A few days ago, the world was a place that included Diane Keaton.
“Now it’s a world that does not. Hence, it’s a drearier world. Still, there are her movies. And her great laugh still echoes in my head.”
Fans of the 1977 romantic comedy Annie Hall hold a deep appreciation for its legacy, but some find it challenging to celebrate without reservations.
Annie Hall was acclaimed for its innovative fourth-wall breaks and non-linear storytelling. However, some themes have not aged well, as noted by Philip Sledge at Cinema Blend.
In the film, Allen’s character, Alvy, exhibits ‘sex obsessed’ behavior, including moments where his partner ‘wishes not to engage.’
One particular scene shows Alvy upset about being bailed out of jail because he was with 16-year-old twin girls, contemplating the ‘mathematical possibilities’ of the encounter.
The scene is set in Los Angeles, where the age of consent is two years above the girls’ age.
While some might attribute this to evolving societal norms, it takes on additional complexity when considered alongside later allegations against Allen.
In August 1992, Dylan Farrow, the seven-year-old adopted daughter of Allen and actress Mia Farrow, accused Allen of sexual assault amid a custody battle.
The case was investigated by authorities but was dismissed by two official bodies, and no criminal charges were filed. Allen has always denied the allegations, labeling them ‘untrue and disgraceful.’
The previous year, Allen began a relationship with Soon-Yi Previn, Farrow’s adopted daughter, who is 35 years his junior. Previn had been adopted from South Korea by Farrow and her then-husband, Andre Previn, in 1978. Farrow discovered the affair while she was still in a relationship with Allen.
Allen and Previn married in 1997 in Venice, Italy, and later adopted two daughters.
Despite the allegations, Keaton consistently supported Allen. In 2018, during the height of the #MeToo movement, Keaton took to social media to reiterate her support.
“Woody Allen is my friend and I continue to believe him,” she wrote. “It might be of interest to take a look at the 60 Minutes interview from 1992 and see what you think.”
In recent years, Keaton expressed her admiration for Allen, telling the Guardian in 2023: “It always was really special to be with Woody. He was great. He was everything, and he remains [so] to me. He gave me everything. He really did. Woody made it loose.
“That helped me enormously.”