Below is a compiled list of the most interesting facts about Diane Keaton. Check it out!
Diane Keaton was born Diane Hall in Los Angeles, California, to Dorothy Deanne (Keaton), an amateur photographer, and John Newton Ignatius “Jack” Hall, a civil engineer and real estate broker. She studied Drama at Santa Ana College, before dropping out in favor of the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York. After appearing in summer stock for several months, she got her first major stage role in the Broadway rock musical “Hair”. As understudy to the lead, she gained attention by not removing any of her clothing. In 1968, Woody Allen cast her in his Broadway play “Play It Again, Sam,” which had a successful run. It was during this time that she became involved with Allen and appeared in a number of his films. The first one was Play It Again, Sam (1972), the screen adaptation of the stage play. That same year Francis Ford Coppola cast her as Kay in the Oscar-winning The Godfather (1972), and she was on her way to stardom. She reprized that role in the film’s first sequel, The Godfather: Part II (1974). She then appeared with Allen again in Sleeper (1973) and Love and Death (1975).
Interesting Facts about Diane Keaton
- She is not related to Michael Keaton, as her birth name is Diane Hall. She changed her last name to her mother’s maiden name as a result of a Diane Hall already being in the Actors Guild. According to her, Michael Keaton had a similar problem with his natural name when entering the Guild (his birth name is Michael Douglas!), though he picked “Keaton” because he liked Diane’s name.
- Woody Allen said of her, “In real life, Keaton believes in God. But she also believes that the radio works because there are tiny people inside it.”
- She and Tuesday Weld, who played her sister in Mr. Goodbar (1977), had intersecting, on-and-off-again romances with Al Pacino. Al was intermittently involved with Weld spanning roughly 1972 to 1982 and Diane from 1971 to 1991.
- Warren Beatty originally offered Keaton Julie Christie’s part in Heaven Can Wait (1978), but decided against it to do the more challenging role in Mr. Goodbar (1977). She did however take the role of Louise Bryant in Reds (1981), a role which Beatty originally offered to Christie.
- Studied acting under the legendary acting teacher, Sanford Meisner, at NYC’s prestigious Neighborhood Playhouse.
- Was cited as one of the most promising movie personalities of 1973 in John Willis’ 1974 Film Annual “Screen World” book.
- Two of her four Oscar-nominated roles were directed by her then boyfriends: Annie Hall (1977) (which won her an Oscar) was directed by Woody Allen and Reds (1981) was directed by Warren Beatty.
- Is one of 15 Oscar-winning actresses to have been born in the state of California. The others are Fay Bainter, Gloria Grahame, Jo Van Fleet, Liza Minnelli, Tatum O’Neal, Sally Field, Anjelica Huston, Cher, Jodie Foster, Helen Hunt, Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie, Marcia Gay Harden and Brie Larson.
- Was the 81st actress to receive an Academy Award; she won the Best Actress Oscar for Annie Hall (1977) at The 50th Annual Academy Awards (1978) on April 3, 1978.
- Is one of 25 actresses to have won an Academy Award for their performance in a comedy; hers being for Annie Hall (1977). The others, in chronological order, are: Claudette Colbert (It Happened One Night (1934)), Loretta Young (The Farmer’s Daughter (1947)), Josephine Hull (Harvey (1950)), Judy Holliday (Born Yesterday (1950)), Audrey Hepburn (Roman Holiday (1953)), Goldie Hawn (Cactus Flower (1969)), Glenda Jackson (A Touch of Class (1973)), Lee Grant (Shampoo (1975)), Maggie Smith (California Suite (1978)), Mary Steenburgen (Melvin and Howard (1980)), Jessica Lange (Tootsie (1982)), Olympia Dukakis (Moonstruck (1987)), Cher (Moonstruck (1987)), Jessica Tandy (Driving Miss Daisy (1989)), Mercedes Ruehl (The Fisher King (1991)), Marisa Tomei (My Cousin Vinny (1992)), Dianne Wiest (Bullets Over Broadway (1994)) Mira Sorvino (Mighty Aphrodite (1995)), Frances McDormand (Fargo (1996)), Helen Hunt (As Good as It Gets (1997)), Judi Dench (Shakespeare in Love (1998)), Gwyneth Paltrow (Shakespeare in Love (1998)), Penélope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)), and Jennifer Lawrence (Silver Linings Playbook (2012)).
- Claims she hasn’t dated anyone in 35 years. [July 2019]
- One of People Magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful People (2004).
Personal Quotes by Diane Keaton
I’m not a wine connoisseur, but I do like a glass or two at night.
Diane Keaton
My mother always said that everyone should be required to write an autobiography of their lives.
Diane Keaton
My old boyfriend, Warren Beatty, used to say I was a late developer,’ she reflects. ‘He was right. It took me 50 years to find motherhood and unconditional love.’
Diane Keaton
My thinking about plastic surgery is this. I haven’t had it, but never say never. Because when you do, you are definitely going to go there.
Diane Keaton
The best relationships develop out of friendships.
Diane Keaton
