Woody Allen was said to be deeply affected by the death of his former girlfriend, Diane Keaton, who died in California at the age of 79. According to People, the 89-year-old filmmaker is “disturbed” by the news.
“She is extremely distraught, surprised and upset,” a source told the outlet. “It makes him think about his own death,” the source said.
Keaton’s health had declined rapidly before her death, and the source said Allen had no idea she was unwell. “He was surprised,” the source said.
Allen and Keaton first met in 1969 when she starred in his Broadway play Play It Again, Sam. Although their romance ended after a few years, they made several films together, including Annie Hall in 1977, which earned Keaton a Best Actress Oscar.
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Keaton publicly defended Allen in 2018
Keaton publicly defended Allen in 2018 when old allegations of child molestation resurfaced during the #MeToo movement. “Woody Allen is my friend and I trust him,” she wrote on Twitter (now X).
In that interview, Allen denied the allegations made by his adopted daughter, Dylan Farrow. Keaton also remained friends with Mia Farrow after his relationship with her ended, when he began seeing Mia’s adopted daughter, Soon-Yi Previn. Allen and Previn married in 1997.
“He didn’t believe there was a problem [involving the allegations against Allen] “The important work they did and the work they did together was eclipsed,” the source tells People. “So she always stood by him. For this he was always grateful. So he always felt close.”
The source added, “I’m told they talked on the phone and had conversations.” “Whenever she stood up for him, he would reach out to her and send messages.”
Allen publicly expressed his admiration for Keaton
Allen also publicly expressed his admiration for Keaton. At the 45th annual AFI Life Achievement Awards ceremony in 2017, she called him “a great, great inspiration,” PageSix reports.
“The moment I met her, she was a great, great inspiration to me,” Allen said. “I’m definitely grateful to her for most of what I’ve achieved in my life. Seeing life through her eyes.”
“She’s really amazing,” he said. “This is a woman who is great at everything she does.”