What does it take to make an actor irreplaceable? A line reading? Chemistry with co-stars? A presence on screen? For Diane Keaton, it was all those things and more. Her acting life was not about playing roles it was about living them so fully they became part of everyday cultural life.
Over the course of more than five decades, Keaton established a body of work that’s ferociously eclectic and deeply personal, ranging from the romantic comedies that redrew the genre to the dramas that cut to the bone. She was offbeat and not cartoonish, chic and not vapid, and always always affectingly authentic. These characters were not jobs they were partnerships that rewrote the terms of what it meant to see women on the screen.
Here is a flashback of seven performances that are the signature of Diane Keaton’s career, each with an off-screen story and lasting legacy.
1. Kay Corleone in The Godfather Trilogy
Keaton’s tour de force as Katherine “Kay” Corleone in Francis Ford Coppola’s epic sprawling mafia remains one of the most ambivalent screen appearances of a woman torn between love and ethical duty. Cast originally for the strangeness that she contributed to Kay, Keaton encapsulated the outsider’s gaze in a universe soaked in piety and brutality.
Her trajectory from fiery Dartmouth sweetheart to disillusioned wife uttering the heart-crushing phrase of their marriage being “an abortion” is an acting lesson in restrained growth. As detailed in exhaustive character analyses, Kay’s depth was most often misread by audiences, but Keaton imbued her with a quiet strength that outlived the films.
2. Annie Hall in Annie Hall
Written for Keaton by Woody Allen, Annie Hall became both her Oscar-winning character and style icon. The men’s wardrobe-derived style ties, vests, and wide-brimmed hats was borrowed from her own closet, a brazen rejection of Hollywood’s strictures on femininity.
The experimental narrative of the film, from fourth-wall breaking to split screens, allowed Keaton space to balance off-center humor and emotional truth. Roger Ebert was among those critics who lauded its “intellectual wit and cultural references,” and the bittersweet romance finale made falling out of love look strangely romantic. Annie Hall wasn’t a character she was a cultural moment.
3. Louise Bryant in Reds
In Warren Beatty’s grand historical epic, Keaton performed journalist Louise Bryant with equal parts insecurity, defiance, and love-sick passion. Her chemistry with Jack Nicholson’s Eugene O’Neill provided a strong counterpoint to her chemistry with Beatty’s John Reed, adding an interesting counterpoint to the political fervor fueling the action.
As observed by critical retrospectives, the performance of Keaton captured the contradictions of a woman between ideals and self-desires. The reunion scene at the train station and a passing smile and sigh is one of her most subtle and poignant on-screen scenes.
4. Nina Banks in Father of the Bride
In her 1991 re-make, Nancy Meyers, Keaton brought warmth and solidity to Nina Banks, the glue that holds her family together when wedding mayhem sets in. Her pairing with Steve Martin brought comedy timing and empathetic support, and Nina became the emotional center of the film.
Keaton went on to confess that she enjoyed these movies for the heartwarming portrayal of family ties, which also was enjoyed by fans viewing them for comfort watching. The success of the initial movie resulted in a follow-up, solidifying her status further in Meyers’ rom-com franchise.
5. Annie MacDuggan Paradis in The First Wives Club
With Goldie Hawn and Bette Midler, Keaton shone in this divorce revenge comedy featuring three women reclaiming their lives. Her Annie endured therapy sessions, leftover dreams of reconciliation, and ultimately empowerment with her friends.
The movie’s box-office draw more than $181 million globally and cult status among middle-aged women attest to the classic’s staying power. Off-screen, the chemistry of the leads, namely coffee breaks in the makeup trailer followed by guffaws, lent a band of realism to their on-screen romance.
6. Bessie in Marvin’s Room
In Jerry Zaks’ off-Broadway drama, Keaton played the character of Bessie, a woman who has spent several years caring for her medically ill father. When she gets the news that she herself has leukemia, she must reconcile with her estranged sister, played by Meryl Streep.
Keaton’s performance anchored the film’s exploration of sacrifice and family reconciliation. Her delivery of the line, “I’ve been so lucky to have been able to love someone so much,” distilled the film’s emotional core into a single moment of grace.
7. Erica Barry in Something’s Gotta Give
Keaton’s divorcee playwright flip against Jack Nicholson in Nancy Meyers’ box-office smash romantic comedy earned her a fourth Oscar nomination and, as she detailed in her memoir, was her favorite performance. She didn’t think the movie would be a success at first, but was thrilled when it performed so well at the box office, even being sent an unplanned financial bonus by Nicholson.
The combination of vulnerability, wit, and last-on-life romance of the character captivated audiences, and Meyers’ signature coastal interiors were the ideal setting for Keaton’s radiant performance.
The body of Diane Keaton’s work is a tribute to the force of truth. Whether performing as a mafia wife ensnared by circumstance, a flighty romantic, or an older caregiver facing death, she imbued each role with intelligence, warmth, and depth. These seven performances are more than career achievements they’re cultural touchstones that continue to shape filmmakers and audiences alike today.
