Al Pacino has spoken out following the death of Diane Keaton, his former co-star and romantic partner. Keaton, who was 79, passed away on Saturday, October 11, due to pneumonia. “I am deeply saddened by Diane Keaton’s passing,” Pacino, 85, wrote in a heartfelt essay for Deadline.
“When I first heard the news, I was shaken. Diane was my partner, my friend, someone who brought me happiness and on more than one occasion influenced the direction of my life."
Pacino and Keaton first met on the set of 'The Godfather' in 1971, where he played Michael Corleone and she portrayed Kay Adams-Corleone. Their on-screen partnership eventually blossomed into a romantic relationship that lasted nearly 20 years, beginning in 1974.
In 2017, Keaton admitted to People that she “had a crush” on Pacino while filming the epic gangster saga. “I was mad for him. Charming, hilarious, a nonstop talker,” she recalled. “There was an aspect of him that was like a lost orphan, like this kind of crazy idiot savant. And oh, gorgeous!”
Despite their deep connection, the couple parted ways in 1990 after Keaton gave Pacino an ultimatum regarding marriage. “I worked hard on that one. I went about it in not a perfect way,” she said at the time.
Sources later told the Daily Mail that Pacino regretted not committing. “I know he will forever regret he didn’t make his move when he had the chance. For years after he and Diane split, Al used to say, ‘If it’s meant to be, it’s never too late for a do-over.’ But sadly, now it is.”
Even after their breakup, Pacino and Keaton remained close. He publicly honored her in 2017 when she received the AFI Lifetime Achievement Award, telling the audience, “You’re a great artist. I remember it, and I love it, and I love you forever.”
Reflecting on her life and career, Pacino described her as a force of nature. “She lived without limits, and everything she touched carried her unmistakable energy,” he wrote. “She opened doors for others, inspired generations and embodied a once-in-a-lifetime gift that radiated through her work and her life.”
On screen, Keaton’s talent left a lasting impression. “On screen, she was magnetic — lightning and charm, hurricanes and tenderness,” Pacino said. “She was a wonder. Acting was her art, but it was only one of the many ways she expressed her imagination and creativity.”
He added, “People will miss her, but more than that, they will remember her. She left a mark that cannot fade. She was unstoppable, resilient and above all, deeply human. I will always remember her. She could fly — and in my heart, she always will.”