Diane Keaton’s family reveals her cause of death
Oscar winner Diane Keaton’s family revealed her cause of death with People Magazine, sharing how fans can honor her legacy.
New details have emerged in the death of Oscar-winning actress Diane Keaton.
A copy of Keaton’s death certificate, obtained by USA TODAY on Oct. 16, showed her “immediate cause” of death was primary bacterial pneumonia. A few days had passed between the onset of her illness and her death at a Santa Monica hospital. No other significant contributing conditions were listed for Keaton’s death.
“The First Wives Club” actress was cremated on Oct. 14.
People magazine was first to report the information.
The additional details on Keaton’s death come a day after People, citing a family statement, reported she had died from pneumonia. Keaton died the morning of Oct. 11 at 79.
“The Keaton family are very grateful for the extraordinary messages of love and support they have received these past few days on behalf of their beloved Diane, who passed away from pneumonia on October 11,” the statement to People read.
“She loved her animals, and she was steadfast in her support of the unhoused community, so any donations in her memory to a local food bank or an animal shelter would be a wonderful and much appreciated tribute to her.”
Adults 65 years and older are at higher risk of contracting pneumonia, which infects the lungs, due to other chronic health conditions and because the immune systems typically get weaker with age.
Diane Keaton died after reported hospitalization
People, The New York Times and CBS News reported on Oct. 11 that Keaton had died, citing people close to Keaton, including producer Dori Rath.
Details about the circumstances were not released at the time. However, the Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed to People and CNN that emergency responders were sent to Keaton’s home and transported a woman to the hospital.
Born Diane Hall in January 1946, in Los Angeles, Keaton found her breakthrough role at 26 years old as Kay Adams-Corleone in “The Godfather” franchise.
She went on to garner admirers around the world with her comedic performances in “The First Wives Club,” “Father of the Bride” and “The Family Stone.” She earned her first and only Oscar statuette for 1977’s “Annie Hall,” one of her many collaborations with onetime partner Woody Allen.
Keaton also flexed her dramatic skills on the big screen, including in 1977’s “Looking for Mr. Goodbar” and 1982’s “Reds,” which earned her an Academy Award nomination. She was nominated twice more, for “Marvin’s Room” (1997) and “Something’s Gotta Give” (2004).