'Parasite' Presenter, U.S. Actress Diane Keaton, Passes Away at 79

Won the Best Actress Oscar in 1978

Hollywood actress Diane Keaton has passed away at the age of 79.

According to U.S. entertainment outlet People and other foreign media, quoting a spokesperson for her family, Keaton passed away peacefully at her home in California on the 11th (local time), surrounded by her loved ones.

Diane Keaton during her lifetime. Photo by AP Yonhap News

According to People, the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a call at Diane Keaton's home at around 8:08 a.m. that day and transported her to a local hospital.

Keaton rose to stardom in the 1970s through films directed by Woody Allen. In particular, she played Allen's eccentric girlfriend in the 1977 romantic comedy film "Annie Hall." The film brought her immense popularity, earning her the nickname "America's Sweetheart," and she won an Oscar the following year.

Director Allen recently praised Keaton, saying, "It's clear that I owe most of what I've accomplished in my life to her." She appeared in more than 60 films throughout her career.

Diane Keaton. Reuters Yonhap News.

Keaton became famous for her role as Kay Adams, the wife of Michael Corleone played by Al Pacino, in "The Godfather" trilogy. Following her Oscar win in 1978, she was nominated several more times for Best Actress at the Oscars for films such as "Marvin's Room" (1996) and "Something's Gotta Give" (2003).

She remained active in her career until recently, appearing in films such as "Book Club: The Next Chapter," released in 2023, as well as "Love, Weddings & Other Disasters," and "Poms."

She is also well-known to Korean fans as a presenter at the Academy Awards for "Parasite." At the 2020 Oscars, she presented the Best Original Screenplay award, handing the trophy to director Bong Joon-ho and screenwriter Han Jin-won for "Parasite."

Keaton dated not only director Allen but also Al Pacino and Warren Beatty, but she never married and remained single throughout her life. She adopted one son and two daughters. In her later years, she published 12 books, including works on fashion, art, architecture, and her memoir "Then Again."