Hollywood is in shock after the sudden and heartbreaking death of Oscar-winning actress Diane Keaton, who was rushed to the hospital from her Los Angeles home early Saturday morning.
Found unresponsive at home
At around 8:08 a.m., emergency services arrived at the 79-year-old star’s residence following a distress call. According to 911 audio obtained by TMZ, the dispatcher’s haunting words — “Rescue 19, person down” — marked the moment help was sent to Keaton’s address.
The Los Angeles Fire Department later confirmed they responded to a medical emergency and transported one individual to a nearby hospital. That person was Diane Keaton, who was later pronounced dead.
“She was very thin”
Keaton’s longtime friend and collaborator Carole Bayer Sager recalled her final meeting with the beloved actress just weeks before her passing.
“She was very thin,” Sager told People. “She had lost so much weight.”
Another friend revealed that Keaton’s health had declined rapidly in recent months, catching even those closest to her by surprise.
“She declined so suddenly — it was devastating,” the friend said. “It felt so unexpected for someone known for her energy and spirit.”
They added that in her last months, Keaton was surrounded only by close family, who kept her condition private.
Health struggles revealed
In previous interviews, Keaton had been open about her health challenges. She battled bulimia for years, and in a 2014 appearance on Dr. Oz, she admitted:
“I’m an addict in recovery. I’ll always be an addict — it’s part of my nature.”
She described consuming as much as 20,000 calories before forcing herself to purge.
Keaton also faced skin cancer more than once — first in her 20s, when she was treated for basal cell carcinoma, and later in life, when she battled squamous cell carcinoma that required two surgeries.
“It runs in the family,” she told the Los Angeles Times in 2015. “My aunt, father, and brother all had skin cancer. You’ve got to wear sunscreen — it’s serious.”
A lasting legacy
Diane Keaton’s death marks the end of an era in Hollywood. A true original, she wasn’t just an actress but a storyteller and icon of individuality, celebrated for her wit, warmth, and unmistakable style.
From her early Broadway beginnings to her unforgettable film roles, her influence on cinema — and the millions who adored her — will never fade.
She is survived by her two children, Dexter (29) and Duke (25), both of whom she lovingly adopted in her 50s.