The world mourned the passing of iconic actress Diane Keaton on October 11, 2025, at the age of 79. While much of the focus has understandably been on her legendary film career, a recent interview has shed light on how quietly her health may have declined—and how deeply her friends felt the loss. People.com
A quiet decline, noticed too late
Among the many reflections following Keaton’s death, one of the most poignant is from her longtime friend and collaborator, Carole Bayer Sager. In an exclusive interview with People, Sager recalled a visit she made to Keaton just “two or three weeks” before her passing—and was taken aback by how much weight Keaton had lost. “She was very thin … she had lost so much weight,” Sager said, adding that she was “kind of stunned.” People.com+2People.com+2
That visit came after Keaton had spent part of the year in Palm Springs, following damage to her home in California due to wildfires. During that time, Sager says, she saw less of her friend—and when they reunited, the change was striking. People.com+2People.com+2
Despite the physical changes, Sager remembered Keaton as still brimming with creative spirit—taking photos, pursuing artistic projects, and even releasing her solo Christmas song “First Christmas” in 2024. People.com+1
“A magic light” — remembering Diane Keaton
For Sager, the memory of that final visit is bittersweet. She speaks fondly of Keaton’s authenticity, creativity, and style:
“She was a magic light for everyone … she was happy and upbeat and taking photographs of everything she saw.”
“She was so special, she just lit up a room with her energy.”
“I just loved her.” People.com
Sager also reminisced about Keaton’s trademark fashion sense—how she’d show up to events looking as though she were “about to shoot another scene for Annie Hall”—always with hats, jackets, loose pants, belts, and bold, individual style. People.com+2People.com+2
Other friends and colleagues echoed similar sentiments. Actress Bette Midler, in tribute, wrote of Keaton:
“She was hilarious, a complete original … What you saw was who she was … oh, la, lala!” People.com
Another close friend told People, “She lived exactly how she wanted to … surrounded by the people and things she really loved,” and noted that Keaton had a gift for making small, ordinary moments feel special—even toward the end. People.com
Context: Keaton’s later years and legacy
Keaton always maintained a certain degree of privacy regarding her personal life—including her health. In recent months leading up to her death, multiple reports suggested that her condition had deteriorated rapidly. People.com+3New York Post+3The Guardian+3
Earlier this year, she reportedly listed her Los Angeles home for sale for $29 million. Some observers linked this move to her sudden health decline, though no official cause or announcement has been released. People.com+3New York Post+3The Guardian+3
Keaton had also publicly spoken in earlier years about her struggles—particularly with bulimia and skin cancer. She’d candidly acknowledged those battles in interviews, and said that therapy had played a key role in her recovery and mental health over time. New York Post+1
Yet through all of it, friends remembered someone who never stopped being herself. Sager’s recollections emphasize a person who continued creating, connecting, and shining—even in her final days.
A final thought
The story of Diane Keaton’s weight loss in the weeks before her death is painful. It’s a reminder of how little we may sometimes see of the struggles going on behind closed doors—even among people we think we know well.
But more than that, the memories shared by those closest to her give us a portrait of a woman who remained true to herself until the end: creative, stylish, emotive, and deeply loved.