DIANE Keaton’s family have shared the acting legend’s cause of death in a touching tribute to her after the Oscar winner died on Sunday.
The Godfather and Annie Hall star tragically died aged 79 after her health had quickly declined, her family have confirmed.
They have now released a statement to People revealing the cause of her passing as pneumonia.
They said: “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.
“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.”
A source told the outlet that Keaton’s health had “declined very suddenly, which was heartbreaking for everyone who loved her.”
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“In her final months, she was surrounded only by her closest family, who chose to keep things very private. Even longtime friends weren’t fully aware of what was happening.”
When the news of her death broke on Sunday her family had only released a short statement asking for privacy in “this great moment of sadness”.
She is survived by her two children Dexter, 29, and Duke Keaton, 25.
Keaton won the Best Actress Oscar in 1978 for her role in Annie Hall starring alongside the film’s director Woody Allen.
Many speculated that the movie was in fact based on the pair’s real-life relationship.
Keaton told The New York Times in 1977: “It’s not true, but there are elements of truth to it.”
The emergency call to first responders has been released, with medics dispatched to a “person down” in the early hours of the morning, according to audio obtained by TMZ.
“Rescue 19, person down,” a dispatcher said before Keaton was transported to a local hospital by the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Touching tributes poured in for Keaton after news of her death broke.
Acting giant Ben Stiller said of the late actress: “Diane Keaton. One of the greatest film actors ever.
“An icon of style, humor and comedy. Brilliant. What a person.”
The First Wives Club co-star Bette Midler said: “The brilliant, beautiful, extraordinary Diane Keaton has died.
“I cannot tell you how unbearably sad this makes me.”
She added: “She was hilarious, a complete original, and completely without guile, or any of the competitiveness one would have expected from such a star.
“What you saw was who she was…oh, la, lala!”
Hollywood legend Al Pacino – who starred alongside Keaton in the Godfather – is said to regret not marrying the star after their on-and-off relationship.
An insider told the Daily Mail: “For years after he and Diane split, Al used to say, ‘if it’s meant to be, it’s never too late for a do-over.’ But sadly, now it is.”
Keaton left an estimated £75million estate following her death.
On top of her acting earnings, she had invested in real estate, to build a large fortune of over $100million.
In California, she sold a home at Laguna Beach for £9.5million, and her home in Pacific Palisades for £5million.
She also reportedly had property in Tucson, Arizona, which she sold for £1.9million four years ago.
Diane’s final post
By Hana Carter
Diane Keaton’s devastated fans flocked to her final Instagram post hours after news of the star’s death.
The actress had shared a selection of heartwarming photos of her beloved dog Reggie.
In the collaborative post with Hudson Grace, she celebrated National Pet Day back in April this year.
In one of the photos, she knelt on the floor beside her pup and pointed at a bag of dog biscuits.
Shaken by the passing of the Hollywood icon, Diane’s followers paid tribute.
“A true legend. Thank you for your talent, your animal advocacy, your immeasurable charm. You will be missed,” one wrote.
“Lost one of the greatest actors and lights of this world today,” another said.
A third wrote: “I wasn’t ready for this forever lively legend to be gone so soon.”