Diane Keaton's Death Certificate Reveals Final Days and Cause of Death
The official death certificate for the acclaimed actress Diane Keaton has provided additional details concerning her final period, prior to her passing from bacterial pneumonia.
The document, obtained by People on Thursday, October 16, indicated that Keaton suffered from pneumonia for several days before her demise, and had started consulting a doctor on September 24. The publication noted her last medical visit was on October 9. She passed away two days later at the age of 79.
Her death certificate did not identify any other contributing factors to her death. Her remains were cremated on Tuesday, October 14.
Bacterial pneumonia, described by the National Library of Medicine as “characterized by inflammation in lung parenchyma and alveolar spaces, is caused by various bacteria, each triggering an intricate interplay with the host immune response,” can present symptoms including “fever, cough, dyspnea and chest pain, with potential complications ranging from necrotizing pneumonia and empyema to meningitis, sepsis and multiple organ failure,” according to the source.
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In a statement issued to People, Keaton’s family extended their gratitude to fans for the outpouring of support during their time of sorrow.
“The Keaton family is deeply thankful for the extraordinary messages of love and support they have received these past few days on behalf of their beloved Diane, who died from pneumonia on October 11,” the statement conveyed.
The statement went on to say, “She adored her animals and was a firm advocate for the unhoused community, so any contributions made in her memory to a local food bank or an animal shelter would be a wonderful and deeply appreciated tribute to her.”
Keaton is survived by her two children, Dexter, 29, and Duke, 25, as well as her cherished golden retriever, Reggie. A number of her Hollywood colleagues and friends expressed their grief following the public announcement of her death, including Al Pacino, Jane Fonda, and Richard Gere.
Gere, 76, first shared the screen with Keaton early in his acting career and recounted memories from their time on set with the actress.
“One of my initial films, Looking for Mr. Goodbar, was with her,” Gere shared during a Thursday morning appearance on Today. “The second movie I ever made featured her, and, naturally, I’m reflecting on her now.”
Gere referred to it as “a challenging film” due to its intimate subject matter. He portrayed Tony Lopanto, a charismatic man who convinces Keaton’s character, Theresa Dunn, to use drugs after meeting her in a bar.
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“It was a very raw, sexually charged film, and she was quite shy and timid, as was I,” Gere explained. “It was only my second film. And we sort of looked out for each other while navigating those demanding physical scenes together.”
Gere and Keaton reconnected on screen in the 2023 romantic comedy Maybe I Do, which was both written and directed by Michael Jacobs, based on his 1978 play, Cheaters.
“We also made a film a few years back,” Gere recalled of his second collaboration with Keaton. “I hadn’t seen her in a considerable amount of time.”
He added, “And I remember just how kind and gentle she was, and how authentic. I think anyone who ever worked with her would just think, ‘This is a genuinely real person.’ Completely unique.”
