Ed Begley Jr. and Book Club Co-Stars Mourn Diane Keaton's Passing
Ed Begley Jr., who costarred with Diane Keaton in Book Club, shared his thoughts exclusively with Us Weekly regarding her unexpected passing at 79.
“I must keep my feelings in check,” a tearful Begley, aged 76, confided to Us during the Environmental Media Association (EMA) Awards held on Saturday, October 11. “Diane and I were incredibly close. My affection for her was immense.”
The two actors initially collaborated on the 1992 television film Running Mates, and later reunited for the successful 2018 romantic comedy Book Club, which grossed over $100 million globally.
Begley maintained his poise as he described Keaton as “like a sister” and “a very cherished friend” during his conversation with Us at the Studio City, California, awards ceremony.
Celebrities Mourn Diane Keaton's Passing: Robert De Niro and Others
“The news of her departure deeply affected me,” he admitted. “She remains with us [in spirit]. Her presence will not vanish.”
The other three principal actresses from Book Club — Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, and Mary Steenburgen — each honored their deceased colleague after learning of her demise on Saturday.
“It is difficult to comprehend…or come to terms with…Diane’s passing,” Fonda, 87, shared on Instagram. “She consistently radiated vitality and brilliance, often laughing at her own eccentricities, displaying boundless creativity…in her performances, her style, her writings, her relationships, her residences, her book collection, her perspective on the world. She was truly one-of-a-kind. And, whether she realized it or would acknowledge it, she was an extraordinary actress!”
Bergen, 79, offered her own comments to People, stating, “This represents an immense void, both for me personally and for everyone. Diane was an authentic artist — profoundly skilled and exceptionally gifted across numerous fields, while also being humble and charmingly unconventional. My longing for her will be profound.”
“She was unparalleled, and no one will ever match her,” Steenburgen remarked on Saturday. “I cherished her and considered myself fortunate to be her friend. My condolences to her family. She was truly magnificent!!!”
The quartet of lead actresses portrayed intimate friends in Book Club who endeavored to revitalize their romantic lives after jointly reading the erotic novel Fifty Shades of Grey. The 2018 comedic film also included Craig T. Nelson, Andy García, and Don Johnson in auxiliary capacities.
Few specifics are available regarding Keaton’s demise currently, as her representative provided no further information. Her family — comprising two children: her daughter Dexter and son Duke — “requested discretion” while grieving the esteemed actress.
A Look into Diane Keaton's Later Years Prior to Her Passing at 79
An acquaintance of Keaton’s informed People on Saturday that the Father of the Bride actress’s well-being “deteriorated quite rapidly” during the last several months of her existence. Although she was formerly a familiar presence in her Brentwood, California, community during strolls with her dog Reggie, Keaton is said to have retreated from public view in recent times to be solely with “her immediate family.”
Keaton’s last cinematic role was in the 2024 comedy Summer Camp, where she performed alongside Kathy Bates, Alfre Woodard, and Eugene Levy. This part concluded a Hollywood tenure spanning almost six decades, during which Keaton earned a Best Actress Oscar for Annie Hall in 1977 and was bestowed the American Film Institute’s Life Achievement Award, among numerous other accolades.
