Diane Keaton has been captivating viewers since the 1970s — and she shows no signs of stopping.
After starting her career on Broadway in the original 1968 production of Hair, Keaton transitioned to the world of film. Her first movie role came in 1970’s Lovers and Other Strangers, setting the stage for her breakthrough in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather two years later.
Reflecting on her character, Kay Adams, Keaton shared her initial thoughts, “I always thought I was the most outsider, weird person in the movie, and ‘Why was I cast in it?’ and I had no voice,” during the 45th-anniversary celebration of the film at the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival. She also spoke fondly of working with Al [Pacino], highlighting the impactful scenes they shared.
Decades after the release of the iconic mafia film, the Oscar winner admitted to not having watched it in nearly thirty years. “I saw it on my computer. I hadn’t seen it for I think about 30 years,” she revealed. Keaton was overwhelmed by the experience, finding the movie astonishing, beautiful, and impressed by the stellar performances and brilliant directorial choices made by Coppola.
Keaton went on to appear in the franchise’s 1974 sequel and 1990 follow-up. While her dramatic turns are award-worthy, fans also love the Then Again author’s comedic timing in Annie Hall, Father of the Bride, The Family Stone and more.
“Diane, of course, she was kind of our leader on the movie,” Family Stone costar Luke Wilson exclusively told Us Weekly in December 2021. “She would never say that but everyone was so admiring of her.”
Scroll down for a look back at Keaton’s most memorable roles through the years:
