Keaton, Diane (1946-…), is an American motion-picture actress and director known for playing both comic and dramatic roles. She won an Academy Award as best actress for her performance as the title character in Annie Hall (1977), a comedy directed by, and co-starring, Woody Allen.
Keaton was born in Los Angeles on Jan. 5, 1946. Her real name is Diane Hall. She studied drama at Santa Ana College in Santa Ana, California, and the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City.
In 1968, Keaton performed in the original Broadway production of the rock musical Hair. The following year, she appeared in Allen’s Broadway production of Play It Again, Sam. She also appeared in the 1972 screen adaptation of the play. In addition to Annie Hall and Play It Again, Sam, Keaton has had several other successful collaborations with Allen as co-star and director, including Sleeper (1973), Love and Death (1975), Manhattan (1979), and Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993). She also appeared in the drama Interiors (1978), which was directed and written by, but did not star, Allen.
Keaton’s first major film role was in 1972, as Kay Adams, the girlfriend of organized crime head Michael Corleone in the blockbuster drama The Godfather. She reprised her role as Kay in The Godfather, Part II (1974) and The Godfather, Part III (1990).
Her other notable films include Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977); Reds (1981); Shoot the Moon (1982); The Little Drummer Girl and Mrs. Soffel (both 1984); Crimes of the Heart (1986); Baby Boom (1987); Father of the Bride (1991) and its sequel Father of the Bride, Part II (1995);The First Wives Club and Marvin’s Room (both 1996); Something’s Gotta Give (2003); The Family Stone (2005); Because I Said So (2007); Smother (2008); Morning Glory (2010); Darling Companion (2012); The Big Wedding (2013); and And So It Goes and 5 Flights Up (both 2014).
Keaton has also directed several films, including the documentary Heaven (1987), the drama Unstrung Heroes (1995), the comedy/drama Hanging Up (2000), and the comedy Mad Money (2008). She wrote the memoirs Then Again (2011), Let’s Just Say It Wasn’t Pretty (2014), and Brother & Sister (2020).
See also Allen, Woody ; Annie Hall ; Manhattan .
