Carole Bayer Sager Recounts Final Visit with Diane Keaton Before Her Passing
A dear confidante of Diane Keaton is recounting their last encounter with the acclaimed actress prior to her passing.
“I visited her a couple of weeks back, and she appeared quite gaunt,” Carole Bayer Sager revealed to People in a conversation released on Sunday, October 12. “She had shed a significant amount of weight.”
The 81-year-old Oscar-winning lyricist — who collaborated on Keaton’s single, “First Christmas” — informed the publication that her interactions with the actress had diminished this year following the devastating January wildfires in California. (The song was released in 2024, featuring collaboration with co-writer and producer Jonas Myrin.)
Keaton, personally, resided in Palm Springs for several months in the aftermath of the destruction. “She needed to relocate to Palm Springs as her residence sustained interior damage, requiring extensive cleaning,” Sager recounted. “She stayed there for some time, and upon her return, I was quite taken aback by the amount of weight she had shed.”
Reports Indicate Diane Keaton's Health 'Deteriorated Quite Abruptly' Over Recent Months
Sager conveyed that Keaton represented “an enchanting radiance for all,” elaborating, “I simply adored her. She possessed such unique charm, truly illuminating any space with her vitality. She was joyful and optimistic, capturing images of everything that caught her eye. She was profoundly artistic; her creative spirit never waned.”
Reports emerged on Saturday, October 11, confirming Keaton’s passing at 79 years old. A representative for the actress’s family informed People that no additional information would be disclosed, requesting “discretion” during their period of grief. Us Weekly sought a statement.
Another acquaintance of Keaton’s revealed to People in a Saturday-published interview that the Father of the Bride actress’s well-being “took a very swift turn for the worse” during her final months. An insider mentioned that Keaton habitually took daily strolls with her dog Reggie in the Brentwood, California, area — but ceased public appearances earlier this year.
Keaton reportedly chose to maintain the confidentiality of her health struggles, preferring to spend time with “her immediate family.” (Keaton welcomed adopted daughter Dexter in 1996 and son Duke in 2001.)
Diane Keaton, Acclaimed Star of 'Annie Hall' and Other Films, Has Passed Away at 79
Numerous celebrities have since honored the actress, among them Reese Witherspoon, her Father of the Bride castmate Steve Martin, and Marvin’s Room costar Robert De Niro. In a released statement, De Niro, 82, characterized Keaton as “incandescent, witty, and authentically herself.”
“A legend, an icon, and a genuinely compassionate individual,” he expressed. “I had the privilege of collaborating with her at 18. Her absence will be profoundly felt.”
Prior to her passing, Keaton exclusively informed Us Weekly in September 2022 that she remained receptive to future professional engagements.
“I would welcome more of whatever opportunities arise. I am unaware of what lies ahead. Perhaps nothing will come my way,” she conveyed back then. “I’ve been incredibly fortunate, and therefore I am hesitant to dismiss any opportunity without first assessing if I might have the chance to explore it, whether I would pursue it or not. I wouldn’t rule out any prospect unless I reviewed material that I genuinely felt was unsuitable for me, something along those lines. That simply doesn't align with my approach.”
