Bette Midler Mourns "Luminous, Exceptional" Diane Keaton After Passing
Bette Midler has shared a sincere homage to her First Wives Club colleague Diane Keaton, after Keaton passed away at 79 years old.
“The luminous, stunning, exceptional Diane Keaton has passed on,” Midler, also 79, posted on Instagram on Saturday, October 11. “It’s impossible to convey how profoundly saddened I am by this news.”
A representative for Keaton informed People earlier on Saturday that the Oscar-winning performer had succumbed to unspecified reasons. Her relatives “requested discretion” during their period of mourning.
Within her Instagram eulogy, Midler recalled Keaton as a unique individual amidst the many iconic Hollywood figures she had met during her professional life.
The Ensemble of 'The First Wives Club': An Update on the Movie's Actors.“She was incredibly funny, entirely unique, and utterly free of deceit or the rivalry typically anticipated from an actress of her stature,” Midler recollected. “Her public persona was her authentic self…oh, la, lala!”
The pair — alongside Goldie Hawn – portrayed erstwhile university companions who unite against their separated spouses in the 1996 cinematic rendition of Olivia Goldsmith’s 1992 book, sharing the same title.
This immensely successful comedy amassed almost $200 million globally, marking it as the most profitable endeavor for all three primary actresses in the 1990s at that time.
Discussions frequently arose concerning a follow-up or related project in the subsequent decades — such as a 2015 Netflix film titled Divanation, envisioned to feature the three stars as a once-renowned vocal ensemble reconvening three decades post-a bitter split, as reported by Deadline. Regrettably, the film's production never commenced and was subsequently scrapped altogether.
Keaton expressed to Pride Source her strong desire to collaborate with Hawn and Midler once more for The First Wives Club 2, lamenting that it never materialized.
“Certainly I was keen, but it just didn't come to fruition,” she observed. “We did make an effort, the women, but a suitable screenplay never emerged, and I’m unsure why; now it feels rather like it’s too late, doesn't it? No one will likely cast the three of us in a film together anymore. Still, I adore that movie, and I adore them.”
The passing of Keaton prompted heartfelt messages from numerous former castmates and celebrity acquaintances on Saturday. Kimberly Williams-Paisley — who portrayed the cinematic child of Keaton and Steve Martin in the 1991 movie Father of the Bride and its 1995 continuation — stated that collaborating with the Hollywood legend represented “among the pinnacle moments of my existence.”
“You possess a truly unique essence, and it was exhilarating to share a period within your sphere,” Williams-Paisley, aged 54, conveyed through Instagram. “I am grateful for your compassion, your benevolence, your artistic skill, and especially, your humor.”
Elizabeth Perkins hailed Keaton as “a national gem” in her personal Instagram homage on Saturday.
Key Performances by Diane Keaton: From 'The Godfather' to Other Classics.“Ms. Keaton, you embodied a national gem, possessing flair, elegance, intellect, and profound skill. I thank you for being my contemporary idol and for demonstrating to a budding actress what it truly meant to be courageous, entirely humble yet confident, and to perpetually remain receptive, inquisitive, and bold,” Perkins penned. “Intricate, unconventional, and immensely talented, you mastered it all…and truly, you established an incredibly high standard. You will forever remain my Annie Hall. My heart feels this deeply.”
Keaton’s legacy continues through her two children, Dexter and Duke, whom she welcomed into her family through adoption in her fifties. The star of Annie Hall never entered matrimony but was involved in prominent romantic partnerships with Woody Allen, Al Pacino, and Warren Beatty over the course of her life.
