Diane Keaton, the Oscar-winning star of Annie Hall, remembered for her talent, charm and signature timeless style (Photo: Pinterest)
Diane Keaton at the age of 79 passed away, an exemplary actress cum style diva for charm and wit was an era unto herself in Hollywood. This death is the end of a long illustrious career affecting generations of artists in its wake for over five decades.
Diane born on January 5, 1946, in Los Angeles, grew up in a creative and supportive and she later adopted her mother's maiden name of Keaton, after discovering that another actress shared her original moniker. Her early performance interests led her to New York, where she studied acting at the Neighborhood Playhouse while also appearing in the 1968 Broadway production of Hair. Her movie career really took off after meeting Woody Allen, appearing alongside him in Play It Again, Sam and later in the career defining film Annie Hall.
Keaton was the eldest of four kids born to Jack and Dorothy Hall. Her father worked as a civil engineer while her mother was a homemaker with an endless penchant for art and photography which awed Keaton deeply through the years and molded her interests. In her 50s, she chose to adopt two children, Dexter and Duke whom she commented were the greatest joys in her life. Family, home restoration and photography became the diversion of her later years taking her far from the spotlight.
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She had an affair for years with some of Hollywood's biggest names, from Woody Allen, Warren Beatty and Al Pacino. Interest in her romantic life came and went, but Keaton was more revered for her private life, stating, marriage just wasn't something I needed. This independent stance gives authenticity to her persona as much as acting.
Keaton was worth about $100 million this was made not only from acting but also from the ills of directing, producing, writing and investments in real estate. Keenly interested in architecture, she passionately restored historic homes in California for years a hobby she rolled into books and photography.
Keaton’s fame stemmed from multifariousness and genuineness. She could have light-hearted romantic roles or wade into heavy, emotional waters. For the role of Annie Hall, she won an Academy Award for Best Actress in 1978 and was subsequently nominated three more times for Reds, Marvin's Room and Something's Gotta Give. Beyond her performances she used her daring spirit to influence a fashion revolution in the 70s from her attire oversized suits, turtlenecks and hats her style became an example for generations of women daring to be just like her.
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The reason behind Diane Keaton’s death is still unknown. Still, before this one actress became an icon, an eating disorder cast a shadow early on her career bulimia. In later interviews, she recounted specifics of extreme dieting in her 20s the bulimia took years of cultivation through self-awareness and therapy to come through. In speaking out about it, she broke the stigma in Hollywood regarding eating disorders.
Bulimia nervosa is characterized by episodes of binge eating followed by behavior to prevent weight gain such as self-induced vomiting, fasting or excessive exercise. It is often associated with the psychological trauma or social pressure to attain a certain body image. What Keaton did was give credence to the notion that says do speak up. Her frankness only added another layer to her legacy one of courage and vulnerability along with talent and style.
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