On October 11, 2025, Diane Keaton, the legendary actress known for her charm, humor, and timeless style, passed away at 79. Although the cause of her death was not revealed, the Los Angeles Fire Department told People that they received a call from Keaton’s home at 8:08 am local time and transported a 79-year-old woman to a local hospital.
The actress, known for her iconic personality and elegance, left behind a legacy that shaped generations of movie lovers. From her Oscar-winning role in Annie Hall to her emotional performance in The Godfather series, the actress will be remembered for her unforgettable screen presence. So today, as we celebrate her incredible journey, let’s revisit her best movies.
Here’s a look at 10 must-watch Diane Keaton films, and how old she was when she brought those characters to life.
1. Annie Hall (1977)
While Annie Hall became a star-making project for most actors who appeared in the film, for Diane Keaton, however, it became the first film that won her an Oscar for Best Actress. She played the titular role in the movie, opposite Woody Allen, wherein her natural charm simply made the film unforgettable.
Overall, the film is a love story that shows how love begins, grows, and sometimes fades away. It shows all the funny, sweet, and sad moments that come with relationships. And Keaton’s performance just raised the bar, making audiences instantly connect with her. Plus, her fashion in the film even started a trend in the 70s.
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With Annie Hall, Keaton proved that she was more than just a funny actress; she was a serious talent. And as for her age, the actress was 30 years old when she filmed the movie and 31 when it was released in April 1977. Even today, Annie Hall remains one of her most loved and defining performances.
Annie Hall is currently available on Prime Video.
2. The Godfather (1972)
The Godfather is probably one of the greatest movies that starred Diane Keaton. But sadly, the actress wasn’t the main focus. She appeared as Kay Adams, the girlfriend and later wife of Al Pacino’s Michael Corleone. However, despite her fleeting screentime, Keaton’s role wasn’t insignificant.
In fact, Keaton’s role represented the “normal world” outside the mafia, and through her eyes, we see how deeply Michael gets pulled into the dark world of crime. Even with limited screen time, Keaton’s calm and emotional performance adds heart to the story. And her scenes show the human cost of power and violence in the Corleone family.
The movie itself is a masterpiece, full of unforgettable characters, drama, and powerful storytelling. Meanwhile, it’s also one of Keaton’s earliest big roles and helped launch her career in Hollywood. She was around 25 while filming and 26 when The Godfather was released in May 1972.
The Godfather is currently available on Paramount+.
3. Manhattan (1979)
Yet another of Diane Keaton’s most loved collaborations with Woody Allen came in the 1979 movie, Manhattan. Herein, she played Mary Wilkie, a clever and confident woman who becomes part of a complicated love story in New York City. The film beautifully captures the city’s charm with black-and-white cinematography and a romantic jazz soundtrack.
Meanwhile, Keaton’s performance feels full of wit and honesty, showing a woman who knows what she wants but is still figuring out her emotions. Her chemistry with Allen feels natural and adds depth to the story about love, loneliness, and growing up emotionally. And naturally, Manhattan became one of the most iconic romantic films of its time and helped cement Keaton’s reputation as one of Hollywood’s most talented actresses.
And guess what? She was just 33 years old while filming and during the movie’s release, bringing warmth and intelligence to a role that remains one of her most memorable.
Manhattan is currently available on Prime Video.
4. Reds (1981)
So far in this list, Reds is one of Diane Keaton’s most powerful and serious films. The movie is a huge historical drama that runs for more than three hours. It tells the story of an American journalist, John Reed, played by Warren Beatty, who gets inspired by the Russian Revolution and wants to bring those ideas back to the United States.
Meanwhile, Keaton plays Louise Bryant, a writer and activist who becomes deeply involved in both his work and his ideals. Throughout the film, Keaton delivers a performance that’s full of emotion and strength, showing how committed and independent her character was. It was also one of Keaton’s films that starred big names.
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Reds included Jack Nicholson, Paul Sorvino, and Gene Hackman, making it one of the most star-filled movies of the 1980s. Overall, the story was emotional and beautifully made, which turned it into a true classic from that era, starring Keaton as a 35-year-old actress when it was filmed and released.
Reds is currently available on Prime Video.
5. Father of the Bride (1991)
The 1991 drama, Father of the Bride, happens to be one of Diane Keaton’s most loved family comedies. Herein, she played the role of Nina Banks, the calm and supportive wife of George Banks, played by Steve Martin. The story is about their daughter’s wedding and how her father struggles to accept that she’s grown up.
So, throughout the story, while George panics and overreacts to everything, Nina keeps things grounded, adding warmth and balance to the chaos. The movie is funny, touching, and full of relatable family moments, especially for parents watching their kids move on to a new chapter in life.
Father of the Bride became a classic and remains a comfort movie for many, wherein Keaton starred as a 44-year-old actress, while filming it and 44 (just four days shy of 45) when the film was released in 1991.
Father of the Bride is currently available on Hulu and Prime Video.
6. Crimes of the Heart (1986)
This 1986 movie, Crimes of the Heart, is one of Diane Keaton’s most touching and emotional stories about three sisters in the South who come together after a family crisis. In the movie, Keaton plays Lenny Magrath, the eldest sister, who often worries too much and feels left behind in life.
She tries to keep her family together while dealing with her own sadness and loneliness. Meanwhile, alongside Keaton were two other amazing actresses, Sissy Spacek and Jessica Lange, and together, they made the movie shine. Their chemistry felt real, like three women who’ve shared a lifetime of love and pain.
The film mixed humor and heartbreak in a very natural way, showing how families can fight, forgive, and heal. Additionally, Keaton’s quiet strength and emotional honesty made her performance truly unforgettable. And she did it all at just 40 years old, proving how talented she is even in an ensemble cast.
Crimes of the Heart is currently available on Netflix and Prime Video.
7. The First Wives Club (1996)
The First Wives Club is one of Diane Keaton’s funniest and most empowering movies. She plays Annie MacDuggan-Paradis, a kind but nervous woman whose husband leaves her for their therapist. Feeling heartbroken and lost, Annie teams up with two old friends, played by Bette Midler and Goldie Hawn, who are going through the same thing.
Together, they decide to take their power back and teach their cheating husbands a lesson. The trio’s friendship and humor make the movie so much fun to watch. And eventually, their final scene, where they sing You Don’t Own Me, became a symbol of independence and strength for women everywhere.
With this role, Keaton brought warmth, wit, and emotion, making Annie one of her most relatable characters. As for her age, the actress was 50 years old while filming and when The First Wives Club was released in 1996, making it one of her most iconic performances.
The First Wives Club is currently available on Prime Video and Apple TV.
8. Something’s Gotta Give (2003)
After her beloved family comedy, Father of the Bride, Diane Keaton starred in Something’s Gotta Give and turned the film into one of her most loved romantic comedies. In the film, she played Erica Barry, a successful playwright who ends up falling for her daughter’s much older boyfriend, played by Jack Nicholson.
What makes this movie special is that it shows love doesn’t have an age limit; it can happen anytime in life. Keaton brought warmth, charm, and a lot of laughter to her role. Her scenes with Nicholson felt both funny and emotional, showing real chemistry and maturity. The movie also starred Keanu Reeves as Julian, a young doctor who falls for Erica, proving she can still steal hearts at any age.
Meanwhile, Keaton won a Golden Globe and earned an Oscar nomination for her performance in Something’s Gotta Give, when she was just 57 years old, while filming and during the release of the film in 2003. So far, it remains one of her most memorable and heartfelt performances.
Something’s Gotta Give is currently available on Prime Video.
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9. Marvin’s Room (1996)
Marvin’s Room happened to be one of Diane Keaton’s most emotional and heartfelt roles. She played the role of Bessie, a woman who has spent her life caring for her sick father, Marvin. But later on, she learns that she’s seriously ill with leukemia, which forces her to reconnect with her estranged sister Lee, played by Meryl Streep.
The movie explores family, forgiveness, and love in the face of pain. Herein, Keaton’s performance feels quiet but powerful, full of kindness, patience, and deep emotion. Plus, her chemistry with Streep made every scene feel real and touching. Not to mention the movie also starred Leonardo DiCaprio as Streep’s 17-year-old rebellious son, Hank.
Overall, Marvin’s Room earned Diane Keaton an Oscar nomination for Best Actress, proving her incredible range beyond comedy. After all, this sad yet hopeful film showed how family bonds can heal old wounds. Keaton was 49 years old while filming and 50 during the movie’s release, giving one of the most moving performances of her career.
Marvin’s Room is currently available on Prime Video.
10. Shoot the Moon (1982)
Lastly, we’ve another of Diane Keaton’s most emotional and powerful performances in the 1982 classic, Shoot the Moon. Herein, she played Faith Dunlap, a woman whose marriage falls apart after her husband, played by Albert Finney, cheats on her. Quite the opposite of Annie Hall, this movie shows the painful process of a breakup.
It taps into the anger, sadness, and confusion that come when a family begins to crumble. Plus, the arguments between Faith and her husband feel raw and real, but it’s Keaton’s quiet moments that truly break your heart. Later on, we see Keaton’s character try to stay strong while finding comfort in a new relationship.
She falls for a kind contractor, played by Peter Weller. Meanwhile, throughout the film, we see several unforgettable scenes, but one that truly stayed with us is the subtle scene where the actress softly sings a Beatles song while sitting alone in the bathtub, making it all deeply moving. And guess what? She was only 35 years old while filming and 36 when the movie was released.
Shoot the Moon is currently available on Prime Video.
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