Hollywood Pays Tribute to Diane Keaton Following Her Passing at 79

Diane Keaton, the Academy Award-winning actress renowned for her performances in "Annie Hall" and "The Godfather," passed away on Saturday at the age of 79. Her death was confirmed by producer Dori Rath, though no cause has been disclosed.

Goldie Hawn, Keaton's co-star in "The First Wives Club," shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, posting a photo of Keaton and reflecting on their longtime friendship. "Diane, we aren't ready to lose you," she wrote. "You've left us with a trail of fairy dust, filled with particles of light and memories beyond imagination. How do we say goodbye? What words can come to mind when your heart is broken? You never liked praise, so humble, but now you can't tell me to 'shut up' honey. There was, and will be, no one like you."

Robert De Niro expressed his sorrow in a statement, saying, "I am very sad to hear of Diane's passing. I was very fond of her and the news of her leaving us has taken me totally by surprise. I was not expecting her to leave us. She will be missed. May she rest in peace."

Jane Fonda also paid tribute to Keaton on Instagram, writing, "It's hard to believe...or accept...that Diane has passed. She was always a spark of life and light, constantly giggling at her own foibles, being limitlessly creative...in her acting, her wardrobe, her books, her friends, her homes, her library, her world view. Unique is what she was. And, though she didn't know it or wouldn't admit it, man she was a fine actress!"

Bette Midler shared her own message of loss, calling Keaton "The brilliant, beautiful, extraordinary." She wrote on Instagram, "I cannot tell you how unbearably sad this makes me. She was hilarious, a complete original, and completely without guile, or any of the competitiveness one would have expected from such a star. What you saw was who she was...oh, la, lala!"

Viola Davis remembered Keaton as a woman who "defined womanhood." She wrote on Instagram, "The pathos, humor, levity, your ever-present youthfulness and vulnerability — you tattooed your SOUL into every role, making it impossible to imagine anyone else inhabiting them. You were undeniably, unapologetically YOU!!! Loved you. Man... rest well. God bless your family, and I know angels are flying you home. 💔💔💔."

PETA Senior Vice President Lisa Lange also honored Keaton's legacy, highlighting her compassion for animals. "Diane Keaton's impact as a brilliant and talented actor is undeniable, but PETA will always remember her as a true friend to animals," the statement read. "At every turn, she used her platform to champion animals, from advocating kindness toward animals often overlooked, such as pigeons, to taking on abusive cub-petting operations by endorsing the Big Cat Public Safety Act, to ditching meat and reminding everyone that 'it's nuts' to eat animals. Diane's heart was evident in everything she did, and she will be greatly missed by all of us at PETA."

Keaton's illustrious career spanned several decades, earning her an Academy Award for Best Actress for "Annie Hall" in 1977. She is survived by her two children, Dexter and Duke.