More intricate details surrounding the passing of Hollywood icon Diane Keaton continue to surface. According to the 911 audio obtained by TMZ, a dispatcher's urgent voice revealed the presence of a "person down" in the wee hours of Saturday morning. "Rescue 19, person down," the dispatcher's voice crackled over the line on October 11, before disclosing the actress's address. The outlet reported that Keaton was swiftly transported to a local hospital by the Los Angeles Fire Department. At the age of 79, Keaton passed away, her family confirmed to People magazine.
A close confidante of the legendary Hollywood star shared with the outlet that Keaton's health had taken a precipitous downturn. "Her decline was swift and heart-wrenching for all who cherished her," the friend of the Oscar-winning actress told People. "It was such a shock, especially for someone who exuded such strength and vivacity."
"In her final months, she was enveloped by her closest family, who opted to maintain a shield of privacy. Even longtime friends were kept in the dark about the full extent of her situation," the friend added.
Grammy and Oscar-winning songwriter Carole Bayer Sager, who penned Keaton's single "First Christmas," recounted her last visit with the actress just weeks prior to her demise. "I saw her two or three weeks ago, and she appeared gaunt," Sager told People. "She had shed so much weight."
"She had to relocate to Palm Springs because her home had sustained interior damage [from the L.A. wildfires], necessitating a thorough cleanup," Sager continued. "She stayed there for a while, and when she returned, I was taken aback by how much thinner she had become."
Despite her health struggles, Sager remarked, "she remained a beacon of magic for everyone." "I just adored her. She was extraordinary, illuminating any room she entered with her boundless energy. She was jovial and upbeat, capturing everything in photographs. Her creativity was unceasing; she never ceased to create."
Another friend of the star noted that Keaton "retained her sense of humor until the very end." "She lived life precisely as she desired, on her own terms, surrounded by the people and things she truly loved," the friend told People. "In her final years, she maintained a tight-knit circle and relished it that way. She was witty until the end, with an innate ability to make even mundane moments feel extraordinary. That was simply who she was."
Following the news of Keaton's passing, a flood of tributes poured in from her former co-stars and other celebrities, honoring the Hollywood legend. Goldie Hawn, Steve Martin, and Kimberly Williams-Paisley were among the many stars who paid homage to Keaton's enduring legacy.
Martin, who portrayed Keaton's on-screen husband in the beloved 1991 comedy "Father of the Bride" and its 1995 sequel "Father of the Bride II," which also featured Martin Short, shared a humorous recollection of the actress, posting a screenshot of quotes from a joint interview with his co-stars. "Who's sexier? Me or Steve Martin?" Short inquired in the article, published by Interview magazine in 2021. "I mean, you're both idiots," Keaton retorted. "Don't know who first posted this, but it encapsulates our delightful rapport with Diane," Martin wrote in the caption.
Williams-Paisley, who played Annie Banks, the daughter of Martin's George Banks and Keaton's Nina Banks in the "Father of the Bride" films, commented on Martin's post, writing, "I can distinctly hear her saying that," accompanied by a crying-laughing emoji. Williams-Paisley also shared her own heartfelt Instagram tribute to Keaton, posting photos of herself with her on-screen mother. "Diane, collaborating with you will forever remain a highlight of my life," Williams-Paisley wrote in the caption. "You are truly one of a kind, and it was exhilarating to orbit in your presence for a time. Thank you for your kindness, your generosity, your talent, and above all, your laughter."
Hawn, who starred alongside Keaton and Bette Midler in the 1996 blockbuster ensemble comedy "The First Wives Club," shared an emotional post on Instagram. "Diane, we weren't prepared to lose you. You've left us with a trail of fairy dust, brimming with particles of light and memories beyond imagination," Hawn wrote alongside a photo of Keaton. She continued: "How do we bid farewell? What words can emerge when your heart is shattered? You never relished praise, so humble, but now you can't tell me to 'shut up,' honey. There was, and will be, no one like you. You captivated the hearts of the world and shared your brilliance with millions, crafting films that made us laugh and cry in ways only you could."
"I was privileged to make 'First Wives Club' with you, our days commencing with coffee in the makeup trailer, laughing and jesting, right through to the very last day of filming," Hawn added. "It was a roller coaster of affection." "We vowed to age together, and one day, perhaps reside together with all our girlfriends," Hawn wrote. "Well, we never got to cohabit, but we did grow older together. Who knows... maybe in the next life."
"Shine your fairy dust up there, girlfriend. I'm going to miss you terribly. My heart goes out to your beautiful children, Dex and Duke," the Academy Award winner concluded.
Midler also paid tribute to Keaton, posting a black-and-white image of the actress on her Instagram page along with a heartfelt caption. "The brilliant, beautiful, extraordinary Diane Keaton has passed away," she wrote. "I cannot convey how unbearably sad this makes me."
"She was hilarious, a complete original, and devoid of any guile or the competitiveness one would anticipate from such a star," Midler added. "What you saw was who she was...oh, la, lala!"
