Roles that defined the origins of Hollywood

Hollywood remembers one of its most recognizable stars Diane KeatonThe Oscar-winning actress whose charm, intelligence, and unconventional style made her an icon for generations, He died at the age of 79. News of her death on October 11, 2025, left fans and her co-stars reflecting on a career that spanned more than five decades, one that redefined what it meant to be a leading lady. Keaton’s characters were rarely perfect, often awkward, and always relatable. She brought depth, humor, and emotional truth to every role she touched. From “Annie Hall” to “The First Wives Club,” here’s a look at the shows that made Diane Keaton a legend, and why her work will continue to resonate for generations to come.

Few shows have changed Hollywood as much as Keaton’s “Annie Hall.” Her portrayal of a free-spirited, slightly neurotic woman navigating love and identity was as revolutionary as it was relatable. Keaton’s combination of vulnerability and confidence made “Annie Hall” an instant classic and earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress. The film not only redefined romantic comedies, it redefined women in romantic comedies.

Off screen, Keaton’s signature menswear-inspired wardrobe sparked a fashion movement that still influences designers today. Her wide ties, floppy hats and layered jackets became symbols of easy individuality, just like the woman herself.

Long before she became known for her comedic charm, Keaton demonstrated her dramatic range as Kay Adams in the “Godfather” trilogy. As Michael Corleone’s conflicted wife, Keaton brought moral weight and emotional complexity to one of cinema’s darkest stories. Her performance is restrained and heartbreaking, especially in that unforgettable moment The door closes in Kai’s faceremains one of the strongest images in the series.

In Warren Beatty’s film Reds, Keaton played journalist and activist Louise Bryant, a woman torn between emotion and politics during the early 20th century. The film earned Keaton another Academy Award nomination and cemented her reputation as one of the most versatile actresses of her era.

As Bryant, she captured the tension of a woman struggling to have her voice heard, whether in love or in history. “Reds” allowed Keaton to shed the comedic mask and step fully into dramatic territory, proving her depth as an artist and storyteller.

In the 1990s and 2000s, Keaton reinvented herself again, but this time as the Hollywood queen of mature, conscious storytelling.

In Nancy Meyers’ romantic comedy Something’s Gotta Give, Keaton starred opposite Jack Nicholson as a playwright who rediscovers love later in life. Her vulnerability and sense of humor earned her another Academy Award nomination, and she reminded audiences that love stories have no expiration date.

Her role in Father of the Bride (and its sequel) cemented her as the quintessential ’90s mother, warm, poised, and endlessly relatable. In “Marvin’s Room,” she showed the depths of her dramatic power, playing a woman who cares for her dying father while struggling with her own death.