Woody Allen Remembers Diane Keaton After Her Passing

NEW YORK CITY, NY — Filmmaker Woody Allen honored actress Diane Keaton following her death on October 11, 2025, sharing heartfelt memories of their personal and professional relationship.

In a written tribute, Allen described his first impression of Keaton when they met at an audition for his play, “Play It Again, Sam,” recalling her as “so charming, so beautiful, so magical, that I questioned my sanity.” He noted that Keaton made a powerful impact on him from their initial encounter.

Keaton, who rose to fame in the 1970s, was born in Orange County, California. She started her career as a coat check girl, eventually landing a role in the musical “Hair” before being cast by Allen.

According to Allen, his professional relationship with Keaton evolved into a deep friendship. “As time went on I made movies for an audience of one, Diane Keaton,” he said. The two worked together on eight films, including the iconic “Annie Hall,” for which Keaton won an Academy Award for Best Actress.

Allen praised Keaton’s diverse talents, which extended beyond acting to include writing, photography, and directing. He viewed her as his greatest collaborator, stating, “I never read a single review of my work and cared only what Keaton had to say about it.”

The pair were together romantically in the early 1970s, but they later parted ways. Allen reflected on their time together, saying, “We had a few great personal years together and finally we both moved on, and why we parted only God and Freud might be able to figure out.”

Despite the complexities of their past, Allen continued to celebrate Keaton’s legacy, remarking on the joy she brought to those around her: “Her face and laugh illuminated any space she entered.”

Following her passing, Allen concluded his tribute with a poignant remark, stating, “A few days ago the world was a place that included Diane Keaton. Now it’s a world that does not. Hence, it’s a drearier world. Still, there are her movies. And her great laugh still echoes in my head.”