Diane Keaton’s family thanks public for ‘love and support’ after actress’ death

The family of actress Diane Keaton has thanked fans for their “extraordinary messages of love and support” following the actress’ death at the age of 79.

The Keaton family said in a statement to People magazine that the Oscar winner’s death was caused by pneumonia.

Keaton rose to fame in the 1970s for her work in The Godfather films and also starred in Father of the Bride, Something’s Gotta Give, First Wives Club and Annie Hall – for which she won an Oscar in 1978.

The actress’ death in California on Saturday sparked an outpouring of tributes from Hollywood legends, including co-stars of some of her most popular films.

“The Keaton family is so grateful for the extraordinary messages of love and support they have received over the past few days from their beloved Diane, who passed away from pneumonia on October 11,” read the statement from People magazine, which was the first to report Keaton’s death.

The BBC has reached out to the actress’s representatives for comment.

Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that can be caused by many different germs, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some people are considered to be at higher risk due to their age or underlying health conditions.

The Keaton family’s statement also asked that any donations or support be directed to causes important to the actress, primarily local food banks or an animal shelter.

Among those who have paid tribute to Keaton in recent days is First Wives Club co-star Goldie Hawn, who said Keaton left “a trail of fairy dust, filled with particles of light and memories beyond imagination.” Bette Midler, who starred alongside the couple in the film, called Keaton “brilliant, beautiful, extraordinary.”

Steve Martin, who starred with Keaton in Father of the Bride alongside Martin Short, reposted an excerpt from a magazine article in which Short is quoted asking, “Who’s hotter, me or Steve Martin?”

Keaton responds, “I mean, you’re both idiots.” In his post, Martin wrote: “I don’t know who posted this first, but it sums up our lovely relationship with Diane.”

Throughout his career spanning more than five decades, Keaton starred in dozens of other films, including The Family Stone, Because I Said So, And So It Goes, as well as a number of Woody Allen films, such as Play It Again, Sam, Sleeper, Love and Death, and Manhattan.

For Annie Hall, Keaton won the Academy Award for Best Actress as well as a Golden Globe Award and a BAFTA Award.

Keaton was nominated for three other Academy Awards during her storied career – all in the Best Actress category – for her work in Something’s Gotta Give, Marvin’s Room and Reds.

In addition to her acting achievements, Keaton was known for her signature style and favored wearing turtlenecks, hats, and thick-rimmed glasses.

This style was even mentioned in the film Something’s Gotta Give, in which Keaton told Jack Nicholson’s character that she was “just a turtleneck girl.”